A few years ago we presented a first draft of a “use code", listing the purposes for which individual bamboos are used, prepared by Richard Waters. Last year Kyle Young proposed to carry on and expand the coding. His information starts on page 34.
We have also changed the format of the Use Code (at least temporarily). Instead of including a coding with each variety listed, we have instead listed the codes, and with each the varieties that fit under each code. Many bamboos are included in his list that are not in this Species List.
Most of the uses are from published works such as A Compendium of Chinese Bamboo, American Bamboos, Bamboos of India, and Tropical Bamboo to name a few. Many uses were garnered during conversations with Peter Berg, Oscar Hidalgo, Ximena Londoño, Bill and Athena Steen (The Straw Bale House), (to name a few) and campesinos in Mexico and Costa Rica. Some of the uses come from my own work with bamboo as a building material.
The format and number of categories has been upgraded to make referencing specific uses easier. The list is primarily historical and newer uses, with some potential uses included primarily in the agriculture and construction categories.
by Kyle Young
Most of the uses are from published works such as A Compendium of Chinese Bamboo, American Bamboos, Bamboos of India, and Tropical Bamboo to name a few. Many uses were garnered during conversations with Peter Berg, Oscar Hidalgo, Ximena Londono, Bill and Athena Steen (The Straw Bale House), (to name a few) and campesinos in Mexico and Costa Rica. Some of the uses come from my own work with bamboo as a building material.
The format and number of categories has been upgraded to make referencing specific uses easier. The list is primarily historical and newer uses, with some potential uses included in the agriculture and construction categories.
Agriculture, other than edible shoots:
A1 staking vegetables; Arundinaria spp., Apoclada simplex, Bambusa multiplex cvs., Guadua spp., Otatea spp., Phyllostachys spp., Pleioblastus spp.
A2 farm tool handles; Otatea spp., Bambusa dissimulator, B. nutans, B. tuldoides, B. tulda.
A3 corrals; large Bambusa spp., large Dendrocalamus spp., large Gigantochloa spp., Guadua spp.
A4 wind break for crops; Bambusa balcooa, B. blumeana, B. dolichoclada, B. dolichomerithalla, B. dissimulator, B. multiplex, B. oldhamii, B. sinospinosa, B. vulgaris.
A5 picking fruit;traditionally, Bambusa vulgaris, Otatea acuminata aztecorum; any long light species.
A6 propping fruit laden bananas and tree branches; sufficiently sized culms from any of the following genera; Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Gigantochloa, Guadua, Phyllostachys.
A7 stock barriers (living); Bambusa bambos, B. blumeana, B. sinospinosa.
A/C1 basketry; Arthrostylidium spp., Aulonemia spp., Bambusa blumeana, Chusquea spp., Elytrostachys typica (baskets), Gigantochloa apus, G. hasskarliana, G. wrayi, Guadua spp. (young shoots), Merostachys spp., Otatea spp., Schizostachyum spp.
A/C2 cages; Aulonemia patula.
A/C3 kites; Rhipidocladum racemiflorum.
A/C4 fireworks; Guadua angustifolia, Rhipidocladum racemiflorum, Otatea spp.
A/C5 furniture; Bambusa arnhemica, B. balcooa, B. bambos, B, blumeana, B. burmanica, B. eutuldoides, B. lako, B. maculata, B. membranacea, B. longispiculata, B. lako, B. malingensis, B. multiplex (all), B. nana, B. oldhamii, B. oliveriana, B. pachinensis, B. pervariabilis, B. polymorpha, B. ridleyi, B. textilis, B. tulda, B. tuldoides, B. variostriata, B. ventricosa, B. vulgaris 'vittata', Cephalostachyum pergracile, Dendrocalamus asper, D. brandisii, D. giganteus, D. latiflorus, D. strictus, Gigantochloa albociliata, G. apus, G. atroviolacea, G. atter, G. hasskarliana, G. levis, G. pseudo-arundinacea, G. robusta, G. wrayi, Guadua angustifolia & cvs., Merostachys spp., Otatea spp., Phyllostachys aurea & cvs., P. angusta, P. bissetii, P. makinoi, P. nigra & cvs, Pseudosasa amabilis, P. cantori, P. longiligula, Schizostachyum brachycladum, Thyrsostachys siamensis.
A/C6 playground jungle gym; Guadua angustifolia.
A/C7 inlay material; Bambusa lako, Gigantochloa atroviolacea, Phyllostachys nigra.
A/C8 broomsticks; Otatea acuminata aztecorum.
A/C9 ox carts; Merostachys spp.
A/C11 musical instruments; B. arnhemica (didgeridoos), Schizostachyum spp.
A/C12 lamps; Guadua angustifolia.
A/C13 rope and string; Gigantochloa apus.
A/C15 screens/blinds; Bambusa textilis, Merostachys spp., Phyllostachys edulis, Schizostachyum spp.
A/C16 fans; Aulonemia queko, Chusquea scandens, Guadua angustifolia.
A/C17 racks; Apoclada simplex.
A/C18 weaving/textiles; mats, wall panels, steamers, strainers etc.; Arthrostylidium spp., Aulonemia patula, A. longiaristata, Bambusa bambos, B. blumeana, B. chungii, B. dolichoclada, B. multiplex, B. mutabilis, B. nutans, B. oldhamii, B. textilis & cvs., B. tuldoides, Chusquea spp., Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. hamiltonii, Gigantochloa albociliata, G. apus, G. hasskarliana, Guadua spp. (young shoots), Melocanna baccifera, Merostachys spp., Otatea acuminata, Phyllostachys angusta, P. arcana, P. a. luteosulcata, P. bissetii, P. flexuosa, P. glauca, P. mannii 'Mannii', P. meyeri, P. propinqua, P. robustiramea, P. rubromarginata, Rhipidocladum racemiflorum, Schizostachyum spp.
A/C 19 craftwork, numerous applications; Arundinaria gigantea, A. g. tecta, Bambusa balcooa, B. beecheyana, B. dissimulator, B. dolichoclada, B. dolichomerithalla, B. eutuldoides, B. longispiculata, B. multiplex cvs., B. nutans, B. oliveriana, B. sp. 'polymorpha', B. tulda, B. vulgaris, Brachystachyum densiflorum, Cephalostachyum pergracile, Dendrocalamus asper, Fargesia fungosa, Gigantochloa albociliata, G. apus, G. atroviolacea, G. robusta, Melocanna baccifera, Phyllostachys angusta, P. atrovaginata, P. aurea & cvs., P. bambusoides & cvs., P. elegans, P. flexuosa, P. glauca, P. humilis, P. iridescens, P. makinoi, P. mannii 'Decora' & 'Mannii', P. meyeri, P. nidularia, P. n. farcta, P. n. 'Smoothsheath', P. nigra & cvs, P. nuda, P. platyglossa, P. praecox, P. propinqua, P. robustiramea, P. violescens, P. viridis, & cvs., P. viridiglaucescens, P. vivax, Schizostachyum glaucifolium (in Hawaii), S. sp. 'Murray Island', Thyrsotachys oliveri, T. siamensis.
A/C20 carving and whittling; Bambusa bambos, B. oldhamii, Phyllostachys edulis.
Bamboo boards (poles split lengthwise & flattened, also known as esterilla); large Guadua spp., large Bambusae spp., large Gigantochloa spp., large Dendrocalamus spp.
Bajareque/Quincha construction (2 different techniques incorporating earthen mud applied to a bamboo framework to create a seismically resistant wall system); used traditionally in Central and South America, Guadua spp., Chusquea spp., Otatea spp. Merostachys spp., Rhipidocladum spp.Also works well; Bambusa multiplex, B. dolichomerithalla, B. textilis, B. tuldoides, B. oldhamii, B. ventricosa, Phyllostachys spp. .
Bridges: Large Guadua spp., large Phyllostachys spp., large Dendrocalamus spp., large Gigantochloa spp.
Browsed by pandas: Borinda fungosa, Gelidocalamus fangianus.
B1 by yaks; Yushania microphylla
C1 Chopsticks; Gigantochloa apus, Phyllostachys heterocycla pubescens.
C2 fuel/fire; Guadua spp., Chusquea spp.
C3 cooking vessel; Cephalostachyum pergracile (flavor enhancing internode is filled w/ spiced rice and coconut milk and cooked over fire), Guadua spp.
C4 edible fruit; Guadua sarcocarpa, Guadua paraguayana (caryopses), Melocanna baccifera, Pharuslatifolius latifolius (caryopses).
C5 food storage; Guadua weberbaueri, large Dendrocalamus spp., large Bambusa spp., large Gigantochloa spp., Schizostachyum spp.
C6 shoots; higher quality (somewhat dependent on cultivation practices, should require little or no boiling); Acidosasa edulis, Bambusa blumeana, B. burmanica, B. oldhamii, Dendrocalamus asper, D. brandisii, D. beecheyana, D. hamiltonii, D. latiflorus, Fargesia fungosa, Gigantochloa atter, G. levis, G. robusta, Nastus elatus, Phyllostachys edulis, P. dulcis, P. iridescens.
C6 Shoots lesser quality (somewhat dependent on cultivation practices, will probably require some boiling to remove bitterness); Arundinaria gigantea, A. g. tecta, Bambusa arnhemica, B. balcooa, B. bambos, B. beecheyana, B. edulis, B. lako, B. malingensis, B. membranacea, B. multiplex, B. nutans, B. pervariabilis, B. sinospinosa, B. textilis, B. tuldoides, B. ventricosa, Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. sikkimensis, D. yunnanensis, Gigantochloa albociliata, G. manggong, G. pseudoarundinacea, Guadua spp. (prepared with sugar), Melocanna baccifera, Phyllostachys acuta, P. angusta, P. arcana, P. a. luteosulcata, P. atrovaginata, P. aurea cvs., P. bambusoides, P. bissettii, P. elegans, P. flexuosa, P. glauca, P. heteroclada, P. makinoi, P. 'mannii', P. meyeri, P. nidularia, P. nigra, P. n. 'Henon', P. n. 'Megurochiku', P. nuda, P. platyglossa, P. praecox, P. propinqua, P. robustiramea, P. rubromarginata, P. viridiglaucescens, P. viridis cvs., P. vivax, Qiongzhuea tumidissinoda (dried), Thyrsostachys siamensis.
C7 wrapping food; Dendrocalamus latiflorus (seafood & rice balls).
C1 posts, beams, rafters, space joists, vigas (the latter is a term used throughout the southwestern U.S. and Latin Am. to denote ”typically” logs laid horizontally to span walls to support the ceiling and roof); Bambusa balcooa, B. bambos, B. blumeana, B. burmanica, B. dolichoclada, B. lako, B. membranacea, B. stenostachya, B. tulda, B.t. f. striata, B. tuldoides, Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. jianshuiensis, D. latiflorus, D. sikkimensis, D. strictus, D. yunnanicus, Elytrostachys typica, Gigantochloa apus, G. atroviolacea, G. atter, G. pseudo-arundinacea, G. robusta, Guadua amplexifolia, G. angustifolia, G. chacoensis, G. macrostachya, G. sarcocarpa, G. superba, G. trinii, G. velutina, Melocanna baccifera, Otatea spp., Phyllostachys bambusoides, P. edulis.
C2 bundled vigas; smaller diameter poles tightly bundled to the needed diameter. Can be bundled in curved shapes; Bambusa tuldoides, B. ventricosa, B. pachinensis, B. textilis, small Guadua spp., small Gigantochloa spp., small Bambusa spp., small Dendrocalamus spp., small to medium Phyllostachys spp., Otatea spp.
C3 concrete reinforcement (typically the outer peel is used); Bambusa textilis, Dendrocalamus asper, Gigantochloa apus, Guadua angustifolia, Phyllostachys angustifolia, Pseudosasa amabilis.
C4 latillas; a term used throughout the southwest U.S. and in Latin Am. to denote small diameter material laid on top of vigas that create the ceiling and support the roof. Can be splits or small diameter poles; Bambusa dissimulator, B. dolichoclada, B. dolichomerithalla, B. multiplex, B. textilis, B. tuldoides, B. ventricosa, Chusquea spp., Elytrostachys typica, Guadua paniculata, G. togoara, G. weberbaueri, Aulonemia queko, Merostachys spp., Phyllostachys spp.
C5 latas/nara dake; the former is a term used in Latin Am. to denote rails used in Quincha and Bajareque construction to create seismic resistance within earthen walls (like rebar in concrete), the latter term is used in Japan to describe same. Can be splits or small diameter poles; Bambusa spp., Dendrocalamus spp., Gigantochloa spp., Chusquea spp., Guadua spp., Otatea spp., Phyllostachys spp.
C8 baloor; a term used to define small bamboo poles or larger splits laid on bamboo floor joists to create ventilated flooring; small Bambusa spp., small Dendrocalamus spp., small Gigantochloa spp., small Guadua spp., small Phyllostachys spp.
C9 pegs and pins; intact poles or whittled to size for joinery of bamboo poles and or wood and for hanging coats, hats etc.; Bambusa burmanica, B. bambos, B. dolichoclada, B. tulda, Otatea spp., Dendrocalamus strictus, Phyllostachys angusta.
C10 interior (small diameter poles driven into the bale) and exterior (up to 1 ½” lashed to the exterior of the bale between courses) pinning of straw bale walls; Bambusa multiplex cvs, Otatea spp., Phyllostachys angusta, P. aurea & cvs, P. aureosulcata & cvs, P. mannii 'Decora', P. meyeri, P. nidularia & cvs.
C11 scaffolding; Guadua spp., Bambusa bambos, Bambusa tuldoides, Phyllostachys bambusoides, P. edulis.
C12 shingles; numerous formats; Dendrocalamus membranacea, D. giganteus, D. hamiltonii, D. latiflorus, Gigantochloa apus, G. atter, Phyllostachys large spp.
C13 perlins; typically for thatched roofs. Bambusa tuldoides, B. tulda, B. ventricosa, B. textilis, Otatea acuminata aztecorum, Thyrsostachys oliveri, T. siamensis.
C14 decorative trim; Bambusa lako, B. ventricosa, Gigantochloa atroviolacea, Phyllostachys aurea, P. heterocycla, P. nigra, Pseudosasa amabilis.
C15 handles for doors, windows, cabinetry (crooked sections of poles are often preferred); Bambusa dissimulator, B. dolichomerithalla, B. multiplex & cvs, B. nutans, B. pachinensis, B. tulda, B. tuldoides, B. ventricosa, B. vulgaris 'Wamin', Phyllostachys aurea & cvs, P. angusta .
C16 processed into dimensional materials such as ”Plyboo”, flooring, paneling; Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. hamiltonii, D. strictus, Guadua angustifolia, Guadua chacoensis, Phyllostachys edulis, P. nigra.
C17 light construction; Apoclada simplex, Aulonemia patula, Phyllostachys bambusoides, P. b. 'Allgold', P. b. 'Castillon', P. b. 'Castillon inversa', P. b. 'Kawadana', P. b. 'Slender crookstem', P. b. subvariegata, P. b. 'White crookstem', P. iridescens, P. makinoi, P. n. 'Bory', P. n. 'Henon', P. n. 'Shimadake', P. rubromarginata, P. viridis, P. v. 'Houzeau', P. v. 'Robert Young', P. vivax.
C18 lintels; (historically used in adobe construction to span openings of doors and widows to support wall above opening, now being used in cob and straw bale construction in same way); Bambusa spp., Dendrocalamus spp., Gigantichloa spp., Guadua spp., Phyllostachys basal portion of large spp.
C19 ledgers; Bambusa beechyana, B. bambos, Guadua angustifolia, G. chacoensis, Dendrocalamus strictus, D. latifloris, D. asper, D. brandisii.
C20 webbing for trusses and space joists; Phyllostachys vivax, P. bambusoides, P. edulis (lower basal portion of culm for all P.), Bambusa tuldoides, B. dolichomerithalla, B. malengensis, B. ventricosa, B. dissimulator, B. pachinensis.
Charcoal: medium to large Phyllostachys spp.
Erosion control: Arundinaria gigantea, A. g. ssp tecta, Bambusa ventricosa, B. multiplex, B. vulgaris, B. v. vittata, Guadua spp., Chusquea scandens, Phyllostachys heteroclada purpurata, P. humilis, P. nidularia, P. n. farcta, P. n. 'Smoothsheath', Sasaella ramosa.
Fencing: Phyllostachys spp., Guadua spp., Bambusa spp., Dendrocalamus spp., Schizostachyum spp.
Fishing poles: Bambusa dolichomerithalla, B. dissimulator, B. multiplex & cvs, B. pachinensis, B. tuldoides, B. ventricosa Brachystachyum densiflorum, medium sized Phyllostachys spp., Merostachys spp., Otatea spp.
Fly rods: Pseudosasa amabilis.
Fodder for domestic livestock: Arundinaria gigantea, A. g. tecta, Bambusa balcooa, B. nutans, B. tulda, B. tulda f. striata, B. vulgaris, B.v. 'Vittata', Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. g. variegatus, D. hamiltonii, Phyllostachys edulis, Aulonemia spp., Chusquea spp., Rhipidocladum spp., Yushania alpina.
Formwork: Guadua spp., Bambusa spp., Dendrocalamus spp., Gigantochloa spp.
Medicine: Bambusa bambos (Ayurvedic applications using mostly leaf infusions; eye wash, inflammation, leucoderma, blood purification, bronchitis, gonorrhea, fever), B. beecheyana, B. tuldoides (Chinese chuk yu to treat febrile diseases; haematuria, epistaxis, infantile epilepsy), B. vulgaris (leaves; sudorific and febrifugent against jaundice and dropsy, Sap from shoots used to treat dropsy, fever, anorexia, fetal problems, haematuria, coughs and congestion. Culm sheaths; (emmenagogue and antihemorrhagic, used against hiccups, vomiting, miscarriage), Dendrocalamus strictus (abortifacient properties, used against kidney ailments and gonorrhea), Gigantochloa spp., Guadua angustifolia (culm water mixed W/ other plants as diuretic, powdered roots used against head and body aches), G. spp. (water from culm internode used as contraceptive), Olyra latifolia (umbilical knife, antifungal agent) Olyra spp. (to treat head lice), Pariana spp. (snake bite remedy, ashes used on wounds, smoke inhaled against fevers) Pharus latifolius (leaves used as poultice, boiled vapors inhaled against headaches, used against coughs, measles), Phyllostachys bambusoides, P. edulis, P. nigra, P. n. 'Henon', Rhipidocladum harmonicum (water from culm used to cure kidney ailments), Schizostachyum spp.
mu1-percussion; Guadua spp., Phyllostachys spp., Schizostachyum spp., Cephalostachyum spp.
mu2-string; Guadua spp., Phyllostachys edulis.
mu3-wind; Aulonemia queko, Rhipidocladum harmonicum, G. weberbaueri, Olyra latifolia.
O1 hedges/living barriers/fence; Bambusa blumeana, Bambusa multiplex & cvs, B. gibba, Bambusa oldhamii, Gigantochloa hasskarliana, Guadua spp., Neohouzeaua mekongensis, Sasa simofuri.
O2 ground cover; Ampelocalamus scandens, Pleioblastus distichus, Sasa (all species), Sasaella (all species), Sasamorpha borealis.
O3 focal plant/screen/shade; Bambusa dolichoclada 'stripe', B. d. 'Green stripe stem', B. d. 'Silverstripe', B. eutuldoides, B. glaucophylla, B. lako, B. rigida, B. rutila, B. textilis & cvs., B. ventricosa & cvs, B. vulgaris 'Wamin' B. v. 'Wamin striped', B. v. 'Vittata', Cephalostachyum virgatum, Chimonobambusa marmorea, C. m. variegata, C. quadrangularis, C. q. 'Suow', Dendrocalamus asper, D. latiflorus 'mei-nung', Drepanostachyum falcatum, Gigantochloa atroviolacea, G. hasskarliana, Guadua angustifolia 'Bicolor', Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima', Phyllostachys aurea & cvs, P. aureosulcata & cvs, P. bambusoides & cvs, P. glauca, P. heteroclada, P. h. 'solidstem', P. edulis Heterocycla 'Tortoise shell', P. mannii 'Decora', P. nigra, P. n. 'Bory', P. n. 'Hale', P. n. 'megurochiku', P. n. 'Muchisasa', P. n. 'Shimadake', P. violascens, P. viridis 'Houzeau', P. v. 'Robert Young', P. vivax aureocaulis, Schizostachyum brachycladum, Thyrsostachys siamensis.
O4 Potted plant; Sasa sp.
O5 Windbreak; Bambusa balcooa, B. dissimulator, B. dolichoclada, B. dolichomerithalla, B. multiplex, B. oldhamii, B. sinospinosa, B. vulgaris.
Paper pulp; Bambusa bambos, B. beecheyana, B. chungii, B. edulis, B. multiplex, B. oldhamii, B. vulgaris, Dendrocalamus giganteus, D. strictus, Gigantochloa apus, G. atter, Melocanna baccifera, Phyllostachys edulis, P. makinoi, Thyrsostachys siamensis.
Water Pipes; Bambusa vulgaris, Dendrocalamus yunnanicus, Gigantochloa robusta, Yushania alpina.
Rafts; large Guadua spp., Dendrocalamus yunnanicus.
Resistant to:
RT1 Dinoderos minutos (powder post beetle); Bambusa bambos
RT2 cracking in dry climates; Guadua spp., Bambusa bambos
RT3 molds and funguses; Bambusa bambos
Staffs, walking canes, crutches, umbrellas: Guadua weberbaueri, Otatea spp., Phyllostachys viridis, P. juxianensis, Qiongzhuea tumidissinoda.
Thatch: Neurolepis nobilis (leaves), N. aperta (leaves).
Troughs/chutes/gutters: large Bambusa spp., large Dendrocalamus spp., large Guadua spp., large Gigantochloa spp.
W1 arrows; G. weberbaueri & small Guadua spp. Actinocladum verticillatum, Pseudosasa japonica.
W2 blowguns; Arthrostylidium schomburgkii, Schizostachyum jaculans.
W3 bows; Bambusa textilis, B. dissimulator, B. dolichoclada, Phyllostachys angusta.
W4 lances; Guadua spp.
Wine; Oxytenanthera brauni (young shoots are cut to tap sap for fermentation).
Wrapping; Pariana trichosticha, Sasa palmata, Sasa ramosa.