THE FIRST REPORT OF FLOWERING AND FRUITING
PHENOMENON IN MELOCANNA BACCIFERA
(Roxb.) Kurz In Nepal
BY
KESHAB SHRESTHA
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY
KATHMANDU, NEPAL
A Paper Presented In The VIIIth World Bamboo Congress,
Bangkok, Thailand
2009
Nepal’s Position in the World
Introduction
Nepal is a small country in the world occupying
about 0.09 percent of the earth’s surface with the area
of 147,181 sq.km. Due to topographical variation within
a short range starting from 64m of elevation to the
highest altitude of 8,848 m, Nepal is regarded as a high
biodiversity zone and possesses 6500 species of higher
plants including Bamboo species. Nepal possesses 81
species of bamboo out of 1,573 species worldwide. It
comes to be about 5.21 percent in world’s ratio.
In Nepal,bamboo occupies about 62,890 hectares of
land. The natural forest hosts 38,000 hectares and rest is
agricultural land. The total standing stock has been
estimated at 15 million cubic meters with biomass value of
1,060 metric tons. The annual production of bamboo is
estimated at 3.01 million cubic of which 2.64 million culms
are consumed locally and 0.64 million culms are exported
to India (Kesari, 2005).
Nepal has 5 genera and 27 species under
large bamboo species which are commonly called
Bans in local language and come in Bambusae
tribe. Small bamboos include 15 genera and 35
species. On the other hand 3 genera and 4
species fall under dwarf bamboo species. Of
them, 45 species are indigenous and rest is
exotic. Melocanna baccifera is a large bamboo
species found in Nepal.
Methodology
Eastern and Central Nepal were visited in course of
regular plant survey from Natural History Museum,
likewise a private visit was also arranged to study the
fruiting phenomenon. Information were gathered from
the local people. Interviewing with local inhabitants and
collection of the samples were done during the flowering
and non-flowering seasons. A detail study of the
flowering and fruiting was done at the Pourai village in
Rautahat district of central Nepal. Vegetation of the
surrounding bamboo area was also noted along with
their local names and identified (Shrestha, 1998) during
the study period. Other relevant literatures (Anonymous
1998, Poudyal 2006, Keshari (2005), Shrestha 1998,
Stepleton 1994, Gamble 1896 and Shibata, 2008 personal communication 2008) were consulted. Help
from sketching and photographs were also taken.
Result
There are altogether five species of
Melocanna, but Nepal represents only one
described species so far. The author for the first
time found this species from east Nepal in 1996.
This species is very interesting in terms of
culms, rhizomes and fruits, but there was no
report of fruiting of this species till 2008.
The author found the species in Bahundangi and Sanischare
village of Jhapa district in east Nepal and in Pourai village in
Rautahat district of central Nepal. Vegetation growing around the
bamboo clump in Pourai village during study period is given in Table
1. Ethnic people living around the bamboo clump in the village are
noted as Bomjong, Tamang, Kami, Majhi, Thing, Thokar etc. Thus
their concerned with the bamboo was also studied. The culms were
found growing along the edge of the paddy field where it formed a
line of culms surrounding the agricultural land. The bamboo was
erect, smooth without any branches and was cylindrical (Fig. 1). The
erect shoot has uniform culms whose diameter was almost 5.0 cm
and culm height ranges from 15.0 to 18.3 cm, the culms were green
and spiny, occasionally with yellowish-green internodes and white
cuticles below the nodes. The culm-wall was thin and non durable.
Culm-sheaths were persistent and brittle. Sheath blade was very
long and narrow. Half of the culms were without branches. Almost
similar sized branches arose from every node. The leaves were
large.
Inflorescence: The inflorescence was large compound panicle.
Spikelets were acuminate fasciculate and one sided. There were two
types of flowers; one was in fertile stage and the next on sterile
nodes in the same culm. The fertile flowers were at the lower nodes
whereas sterile were at the upper nodes of the culms. There were
several sterile and fertile flowers arising from the same nodes and
were hanging down from the nodes .
Empty sterile glumes were indefinite, acuminate, and striate.
Flowering glumes similar to empty glumes, palea also similar, not
keeled.
Lodules two and narrow
Stamens five to seven
Filaments free or irregularly joined
Ovary glabrous
Style elongated
Stigma two to four, short and hairy
Fruit caryopsis, very large and pear shaped (Fig. 5) with long
beaked pericarp very thick, Greenish-yellowish-white skin externally.
Small whitish ovules were embedded in a cavity filled with liquid
(Fig. 5)
Ethnobotany: Melocanna baccifera are reported in many parts of Nepal
except from far west region. In the eastern Jhapa, Central in Rautahat and
Chitwan and Pokhara, Syangja and Palpa districts in the west.
Locally the species is known as Philinge Bans in the eastern and
Lahure Bans in the western Nepal. In central Nepal, it does not have any
common name.
Since the fruiting was not observed before (Anonymous, 2008) , most
of the peoples believe that the bamboo has never a big fruit like
Melocanna and the fruiting is due to some misfortune. Due to this
ignorance, villagers cut all the culms and throw them away (Fig. 6).
The fruits are used as game ball for children. Hundreds of people
visited this place to see this unique body of fruit (Fig. 7). Children
generally cut the fruit and tasted the sap inside which they liked most due
to its sweet test like that of coconut-fluid. People do not have idea that
the shoots are edible, but villagers before fruiting used the culm for
basketry, mat, house wall, roof gum or fluid and leaves as fodder. The
bamboos were planted nearby their houses or huts and kitchen garden.
Other species of bamboo like Dendrocalamus strictus, Bambusa nutans,
and Dendrocalamus gigantean were also noticed in central and east Nepal.
They are used as hedge to boader paddy fields and consider ornamental
due to its beautiful poles and amphimorph or metamorph nature. Due to
its more publicity, media were also attracted to the village and made
interesting telecast in television also. Popular newspapers are looking for
more information about this bamboo species. The author made clear of the
rumors that such phenomena with this bamboo occur once in 7-51 years in
other countries like India, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sri
Lanka. This was the first observation in Nepal; this bamboo has many
values and should be conserved effectively.
Table 1. Associate Species around Melocanna baccifera Grove in Pourai Village, Rautahat District
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Ficus semicordata (Kanyu)
Morus macroura (Kimbu)
Zingiber
Anthocephalus chinensis (Kadam)
Zizyphus mauritiana (Bayer)
Bauhinia variegata (Koiralo)
Syzygium cumini (Jamun)
Piper longum (Pipla)
Solanum surrattense (Kantakari)
Cissampelos pareira (Kalikow)
Musa paradisiaca (Kera)
Ageratum conyzoides (Gande)
Amaranthus spinosus (Lunde kanda)
Shorea robusta (Sal)
Dioscorea bulbifera
Colebrookea oppositifolia (Gittha)
Thysanolaena maxima (Amliso)
Ficus racemosa (Dumri)
Tinospora sinensis (Gurjo)
Annona squamata (Saripha)
Dalbergia sisso (Sisau)
Eupatorium odoratum (Tite hawi)
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
Moringa oleifera (Sahijan)
Bombax ceiba
Caesalpinia dicapeta (Arile kanda)
Mimosa pudica (Lajwanti)
Ricinus communis (Ander)
Cynodon dactylon (Dubo)
Stellaria monosperma (Jethi madhu)
Bambusa nutans (Mal bans)
Dendrocalamus strictus (Lathi bans)
Dendrocalamus hookeri (Bhalu bans)
Bambusa multiplex
Schleichera oleosa (Kusum)
Prunus persica (Aru)
Anogeissus latifolia (Bhanjhi)
Litchi chinensis (Litchi)
Perilla frutescens (Silam)
Lagerstroemia parviflora (Botdhaiyaro)
Cannabis sativa (Bhang)
Persicaria pentagyna (Pire)
Polygonum hidropiper
Diplazium esculentum (Pani nyuro)
Acknowledgement
The author is thankful to the Natural History Museum,
Tribhuvan University for all the necessary permission for
this study. Thanks are due to the local and media
peoples of that area for encouragement and remarks on
the conservation of the bamboo. Last but not the least
thanks are due to Mr. Bhaiya Khanal, Associate
Professor for his constant help in the field and reading
this manuscript.
Reference:
Anonymous, 2008: Samacharpatra daily newspaper, Nepal. May 10
Anonymous, 1998. Distribution of Bamboos in India. Bamboo and Rattan
Genetic
Resources in Certain Asian Countries. Edited by Vivekananda,
K., A.N. Rao
and V. Ramanatha Rao. IPGRI, INBAR, Malaysia.Pp 46-61.
Gamble, J. S. 1896. The Bambusae of British India, Annals of the Royal
Botanic
Garden, Calcutta, Micro Methods Limited, Johnson Reprint
Corporation.
Keshari, V.P. 2005. Bamboo: From Poor Man’s Timber to Green Gold. Hamro
Kalpana Brikshya (15) (164): 10-14, Department of Forest, Kathmandu,
Nepal.
Poudyal, P.P. 2006: Bamboos of Sikkim (India), Bhutan and Nepal. New Hira
Books
Enterprises, Nepal.
Seethalakshi, K.K and M.S. Muktesh Kumar1998. Bamboos of India a
compendium. Bamboo Information centre-India, Kerala Forest Research
Institute, Peechi and
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing,
Endogen and New Delhi
Shibata, S. 2008. Personnel communication by email.
Shrestha, K. 1998. Distribution and Status of Bamboos in Nepal. Bamboo
Workshop
and Conference,
Integrated Plant Genetic Research International, Beijing, RP. China
www2.bioversityinternational.org/publications/Web_version/572/ch29.htm
Shrestha. K. 1998. Dictionary of Nepalese Plants Name. Mandalal Book Point,
Kathmndu, Nepal
Slapleton, C. 1994: Bamboos of Nepal. Royal Botanic Garden, Kew, Richmond,
Survey. TW9 3AE, England, U.K.
Physiographic Zones with Phytogeographic Divisions
and Distribution of Melocanna baccifera in Nepal
Classification of Melocanna baccifera
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Kingdom : Plantae (Plants)
Division : Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class : Liliopsida (Monocotyledon)
Sub class : Commelinidae (Non-Petaloid Monocots)
Order : Poaks (Grasses and related monocots)
Family : Gramineae (Poaceae); Grasses
Sub family : Bambusoideae
Tribe : Bambuseae (wood bamboos)
Genus : Melocanna
Species : M. beccifera
Chua et al., 1996, shor 2005, Bamboo species
Source list No. 26,2006
Characteristic/Features of Melocanna baccifera (Roxb.) Kurz
Pachymorph species : Amphimorph or metomorph or internediate
Uniform, erect culm diameter of around 5.0 cm and height 15-18.0cm.
Intermode : Yellowish green with white
below the nodes
Culm-walls : Thin of about 5mm only
Culm-sheaths : Persistent, height shorter than width
Culm-sheath Blade : Long and narrow
Branches : In upper half of the culm many same size branches in node
Leaves : Large
Inflorescence : Large compound panicle, one
spikelets, spikelets acuminate fasciculate
Fertile 2. Sterile flower
Empty sterile glumes indefinite, acuminate, striate.
Flowering glumes : Similar to empty glumes; Palea also similar, convolute, not needed
Lodicules 2, narrow
Stamens 5 to 7.
Filament free or irregularly joined. Ovary. Glabrous
Style – elongate
Stigma 2 to 4, hairy
Caryopsis very large, Pear-shaped. Long beaked. Pericarp very thick
M. baccifera culms in Jhapa district
Distribution of Melocanna baccifera
South and South-East Asia, upto 1,220 m
Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Nepal
In Nepal : Jhapa, Rautahat, Syanja,Palpa
3 species of Melocanna
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Melocanna arundina
M. baccifera
M. bambusoides
Different names of M. baccifera
• Nepali – Philinge bans lkmlnË] afF;, Lahure bans nfx'/] afF;
•
•
•
•
•
•
Assam – Tarai
Bengal – Muli
Manipur – Moubi
Nagaland – Turiah
Dhaka – Nali
Myanmar – Kayin-wa
Flowering Record in Melocanna baccifera
 Cachar and Manipur
1967 (Nath, 1968)
 Dehra Dun
1992 (Sharma 1992)
 Pune
1993 (Seethalakshmi & Kumar 1998)
Flowers: For the first time in Nepal flowers appeared in
2007. The flower started to appear in 2007 and lasted till
the summer of 2008. Thereafter large sized fruiting
resembling a pear appeared in early 2008. Its fruiting
attracted many peoples of that area.
Flowering Record
1863, 1866, 1892, 1900-1902, 1910-1912, 1933, 1960
(Chatterjee 1960, Veid 1972)
Flowering Period
Gamble (1896)
30 years
Kurz (1876) 30-35 years
Troup (1921)
45 years
A close view of M. baccifera with culm sheath
Non-flowering clump may be ready for plantation
Internode with a bunch of flowering spikes
Flowering branch even arising from the sea
About 20-22 braches spread from the internodes. Flowering branches with fruit
Developing fruits of M. baccifera
Villagers cut down all the branches and culm
Flowering and empty branches with fruits of M. baccifera
Empty branches at the top of clump
Fruiting branches at the internodes (below) while empty branches hanging above
A clump planted at NHM, Swayambhu Environment Park
Fruits of M. baccifera in Paurai village, Rautahat
Look like a mango, coconut or a pear
M. baccifera with fruits
Fallen down culm still in tact with fruits (M. baccifera)
Villagers showing the fruiting branch
Nearby village where M. baccifera bloomed
Bamboo product in Hat bazaar
Fruits of M. baccifera of different sizes
Closer view with section M. baccifera
Section showing internal cavity with fruit
Fruits-Fruits everywhere M. baccifera (Lahure bans)
Conclusion
Flowering of Melocanna baccifera occurs after a period of 30-40
years, but propagation of this bamboo is as easy as other species.
Seeds if available propagation will be equally easy but from
propagates this species could be easily proliferated even in
Kathmandu. There are evidences that the fruit even germinate in the
plant in fact. The fruits are very easily fell down in the ground even
by a gentle breeze or wind and germinate quickly.
Large pear shaped fruiting makes the bamboo very attractive,
but it has been found that the villagers in Nepal have no idea about
the importance of this species and believe on misfortune when the
plant blossom. They also destroyed all the calms after flowering and
fruiting with the fear the fruiting bamboo brings misfortune. But, this
is not true. Fruits and young shoots are eaten in Bangladesh and
India. Culms are strong used in different purposes including in paper
making and scaffolding.
Wide spread planting in suitable and needy place of this species
help eliminate poverty. Beautify the orchard, control erosion and
help to bring prosperity after all.
THANK YOU
VERY
MUCH