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Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz
| Family Name: | Poaceae (Gramineae) |
| Common Name: | Muli Bamboo, 梨果竹 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Grass or Grass-like Plant (Tall Grass (Poaceae)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 20 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Myanmar, India |
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Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Sympodial bamboo forming well-spaced groves up to 20 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Stems | Unlike other sympodial bamboos, it forms long rhizomes which results in culms being spaced apart rather than tightly clustered together. The culms are narrow and thin-walled. |
| Flowers | Large numbers of plants flower at the same time over vast areas once every 44-48 years, and then die soon after flowering and fruiting. Plants form large inflorescences composed of cream-coloured florets. |
| Fruit | The large fleshy fruits weigh up to 150 g and produce red to black, oval-shaped seeds. Reddish fruits hang down from the culms in clusters of about 5-7. Each fruit is round at the base and has a long, tapered beak. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Bamboos flower once in their lifetime and then die. The gregarious flowering of this species followed by a massive die-off leaves the soil bare and prone to erosion before the next generation can establish itself. People and various animals which depend on the bamboo for food, shelter and materials are left vulnerable. |
| Habitat | This species grows aggressively, quickly establishing itself as the dominant vegetation over large tracts of land. |
| Associated Fauna | The gregarious flowering and subsequent fruiting results in a large and sudden increase in food supply for rats, causing their population to skyrocket. As seeds germinate and become scarce, rats look for other sources of food, such as agricultural crops. In 1959, this happened in Northeast India sparking a famine that killed 10,000-15,000 people. |
| Taxonomy | ID for this entity has kindly been provided by Mr Low Yee Wen of SING Herbarium. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Agriculture - Forestry: This species makes up about one sixth of the bamboos being grown in India. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Cream / Off-White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flowering Habit | Monocarpic |
References
| References | Jeeva, S. et al.. 2009. Flowering of Melocanna baccifera (Bambusacaceae) in northeastern India. Current Science. 96. 9. 1165-1166 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 32236 |
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| Species ID | 6644 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |