Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Ochlandra travancorica

Syn. Beesha travancorica

IUCN Red List Not Evaluated (NE)

Local name

  • Travancore Bamboo (English)
  • Vei (Kerala)
  • Odai (Tamil Nadu)

Grass type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Poaceae
6m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Ochlandra travancorica stem

Stem

Grayish-green, smooth, thin-walled, and growing up to 2 to 6 metres tall with a diameter of 2.5 to 5 cm.

Ochlandra travancorica leaves

Leaves

Cauline, lanceolate to oblong, approximately 9–30 cm long and 5–12 cm wide; apex attenuate, margins scabrous, and venation prominent.

Ochlandra travancorica flower

Flower

Inflorescences are bracteate and clustered, with spikelets generally ovate to subterete. Each spikelet normally contains one fertile floret.

Ochlandra travancorica fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

Fruit is a caryopsis, with a fleshy pericarp; reported as oblong to ovoid and relatively large.

Ochlandra travancorica

Did you know?

This bamboo is monocarpic, remaining vegetative for about 7 to 40 years before producing a spectacular, synchronized gregarious flowering event. After setting seed, the flowering clumps die, transforming the surrounding forest landscape.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

SW. & S. India.