Hand Book for Gaon Burahs and Panchayati Raj Leader

92CHAPTER XXBAMBOO FLOWERING AND FOREST DEPARTMENTBamboo flowering is a natural cycle of dying and regenerationphenomenon governed by environmental and edaphic factor. Almost allbamboo species flower after a certain period of time and it again regenerates.However, there is a difference in flowering cycle/period on different bamboospecies found throughout the country.The bamboo flowering is such a natural phenomenon which cannot bechecked and predicted accurately by human being.Basing on the flowering habits, bamboo has been classified into threetypes.(1) Annual or continuous flowering – Species which flower every yearbut, do not die.(2) Gregarious or periodic flowering – The whole clump flowers in anextensive area and dies after the seed setting. The flowering maycontinue for two to three years in an area or in the same clump.(3) Sporadic or irregular flowering – This type of flowering occurs inisolated clumps (in one or two culms).The flowering internal in periodically flowering Bamboos, varies fromthree to one hundred and twenty years. Different cohorts of the same speciesmay differ in their flowering cycle. Whether flowering is controlled byenvironmental conditions or by the physiological calendar is not clearlyestablished till date.Flowering cycle of various bamboo species are given below based onearlier report from same area and species.S/ Species Flowering S/ Species FloweringNo Cycle in Year No Cycle in Year1. Arundinaria racemosa 30 yrs 22. Ochlandra scriptoria01 yrs2. Bambusa stra 01” 23. O. travancoriea 07”3. B. balcooa 35-45” 24. Oxytenanthera abyssinica07”4. B. bambos 30-49” 25. Phyllostachys bambusoides120”5. B.copclandi 48” 26. Pseudoxytenanthera monadelpha 04-06”6. B.longispiculata 20-25” 27. Schizostachyum capitatum var.7. B.multiplex 28-31” capitatum 04-08”