Photo Courtesy: Marty Strenges

Bengal Bamboo, Spineless Indian Bamboo

Bambusa tulda Roxburgh

bam-BUS-ah  TOOL-dah

Poaceae

Explanation of name: Tulda comes from a Bengali name for this bamboo.

Synonym: Dendrocalamus tulda (Roxb.) Voigt. (OHR)

Natural range: Tropical Asia (OHR) Mixed deciduous forest in plains, valleys, and along streams to 1500 m altitude (OHR)

Recognition and landscape uses (contributed by Marx Broszio): This bamboo (referring to cultivar ‘Striata’) can grow very tall with erect green culms having attractive, random yellowish striping on the lower internodes. It has an open clumping form, which gives it a grove-like appearance, and requires space. By removing some canes from a mature plant, the open appearance can be accentuated, so that over time you can create a bamboo "forest" to stroll through, especially if you have room to plant a number of these bamboos near each other. In ideal growing conditions, this tropical bamboo can reach a height of 70’ with canes up to 4” in diameter, but do not expect this size in South Florida.

Notes: Cultivated at Kanapaha Garden, University of Florida, Gainesville