Record Number

2121

PROSEA Handbook Number

7: Bamboos

Taxon

Racemobambos Holttum

Family

GRAMINEAE

Major Taxa and Synonyms

Major species and synonyms
— Racemobambos congesta (Pilger) Holttum. Synonym: Arundinaria congesta Pilger.
— Racemobambos gibbsiae (Stapf) Holttum. Synonym: Bambusa gibbsiae Stapf.
— Racemobambos raynalii Holttum.

Vernacular Names

— Racemobambos congesta: Papua New Guinea: dim (Weng, Busilmin), twengom (Wapi, Miwaute), mal (Mendi).

Distribution

The genus Racemobambos (16 species) is confined to Malesia up to the Solomon Islands, with great diversity in New Guinea (about 6 species), but so far has not been found in Sumatra, Java, and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Racemobambos congesta is found in Papua New Guinea and Goodenough Island; Racemobambos gibbsiae is endemic on Mount Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia); Racemobambos raynalii is found in Irian Jaya (Indonesia).

Uses

In New Guinea culms are used for bow strings, straps for fire making, and arrow heads. All Racemobambos species have potential ornamental value.

Observations

Scrambling bamboos. Culms slender, lower part erect, upper part leaning or scrambling over nearby vegetation, up to 20 m long, diameter 8—9 mm, walls thin; internodes 25 cm long. Branches several to many at each node, with the primary branch dominant. Inflorescence semelauctant, a panicle or raceme, terminating a leafy branch; spikelet consisting of 2—3 glumes, 3—8 perfect florets, and one terminal rudimentary floret. Found in mountain or mossy forest, except for Racemobambos hirsuta Holttum which grows in the lowlands of Sabah (Malaysia) and Palawan (the Philippines). Racemobambos congesta and Racemobambos gibbsiae form dense thickets in montane forest.

Selected Sources

[9]Dransfield, S., 1983. The genus Racemobambos Holttum (Gramineae– Bambusoideae). Kew Bulletin 37(4): 661–679.
[15]Holttum, R.E., 1967. The bamboos of New Guinea. Kew Bulletin 21(2): 263–292.
[16]Holttum, R.E., 1975. A new species of Racemobambos (Gramineae) from New Guinea. Adansonia, sér. 2, 15(1): 95–97.

Author(s)

S. Dransfield & E.A. Widjaja

Correct Citation of this Article

Dransfield, S. & Widjaja, E.A., 1995. Racemobambos Holttum. In: Dransfield, S. & Widjaja, E.A. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 7: Bamboos. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia. Database record: prota4u.org/prosea

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