Bamboos at Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Chiang Mai

Location

Postal Address:
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, The Botanical Garden Organization,
Mae Rim - Samoeng Road, A. Mae Rim, Chiang Mai, 50180, Thailand
สวนพฤกษศาสตร์ ศมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ อำเภอแมริม จังหวัดเชียงใหม่ ๕๐๑๘๐

Open: daily from 8:30 – 17:00 h

Website:

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, The Botanical Garden Organization

Email: qbg@chmai.loxinfo.co.th

Map of Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden

Route Map: Grid B1 in Route Map 1.
Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden is located 27 km NW of Chiang Mai, at the edge of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park.


Direction

From Chiang Mai on National Road #107 to Mae Rim, turn left a few kilo­meters after Mae Rim at inter­section with National Road #1096. Stay on this road, heading towards Samoeng. 12 km after the inter­section you will see the entrance to the Botanic Garden on the left hand side.


Description of Site

Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden (QSBG), or formerly known as Mae Sa Botanic Garden, is the first botanical garden of the country at inter­national standards. The main objectives of the Garden are to serve as a center of Thai flora for botanical study and research, to render services concern­ing bio­diversity and environ­mental con­serv­ation, as well as to provide an aesthetic place for the general public.

The Botanic Garden comprises an area of 960 ha with a wide collection of plant species, 12 exhibition green­houses, garden and nature trails, educational and research activities. Major scientific activities related to bio­diversity con­serv­ation are carried out at the Technical and Research Depart­ment, which is located at the Sanga Sabhasri Research and Develop­ment Center. This Center com­prises three main buildings: the Herbarium, the Natural Science Museum, and the Laboratory Center.

There is no special collection site for bamboos, and they may be found wide­spread over the whole area. Several bamboos were planted along the main road on the left side between Visitor Center and next car parking area, and a few further were found along the road to the Administration Building and Thai Orchid Nursery.


Images

Photos can be found in the following set:

Bamboos at Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden

All images show plants at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden if not otherwise stated. A first batch of photos was taken during rainy season on 21 July 2009.


List of Bamboos

The following is a briefly commented list of bamboos (identified and unidentified) viewed at the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden. The list is arranged in the sequence the bamboos were found along the roads and ways in the Garden. First, the common Thai name is given in Thai script, followed in brackets by its Romanized name, then by its botanical name if known.

A. Main road on the left side between Visitor Center and next car parking area

<01> Schizostachyum brachycladum cv. Ratcha­phruek
This is a rather tall clump with culm diameter up to 9 cm of the yellow-striped green stem variety of Schizo­stachyum brachy­cladum. Also grown at Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek, but not found else­where so far.

<02> Dendrocalamus sp.
A giant bamboo from Burma, perhaps Dendro­calamus hamiltonii, culms greyish-green, thickest dia­­meter 22 cm, foliage leaves medium-sized to large.

<03> Unidentified
Culm sheaths covered with black hairs, sheath auricles and bristles present.

<04> Unidentified
A giant bamboo, culms up to 10 cm in diameter, culm sheaths reddish, covered with dark hairs, sheath auricles and bristles present, branches 3, central branch dominant, the other two branches equal in size, branches rather short, foliage leaves small.

B. Along the road to the Administration Building

<05> ไผ่เฮียะ (phai hia) — Schizostachyum virgatum
There are many stands of phai hia on both sides of the road.

C. Other
No photos were taken from several commonly planted and widely known bamboos. These are:
ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
ไผ่น้ำเต้า (phai nam tao) — Bambusa vulgaris cv. Wamin
ไผ่เงิน (phai ngoen) — Bambusa glauco­phylla
ไผ่ทอง (phai thong) — Schizostachyum brachy­cladum cv. Bali Kuning

Bamboos at the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek (Chaloem Phrakiat Ratchaphruek Garden), Chiang Mai

Location

Postal Address:
Chaloem Phrakiat Ratchaphruek Garden, T. Mae Hia, A. Mueang, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
สวนเฉลิมพระเกียรติ ราชพฤกษ์ ตำบลแม่เหียะ อำเภอเมือง จังหวัดเชียงใหม่ ๕๐๒๐๐

Map:
Grid J1 in BS Route Map 1.


Direction

From Chiang Mai, a few miles on Chaing Mai – Hang Dong Road (#108) in southern direction towards Hang Dong, turn right at inter­section on Road to Night Safari (#3044), cross the Irrigation Canal Road (#121), heading Night Safari / Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek (site of the Inter­national Horti­cultural Exposition, 2006), enter the circle ahead, and exit the circle on one of the streets leading to car parking areas. Walking distance from there to the entrance.


Description of Site

Site Plan of the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek

The Chaloem Phrakiat Ratcha­phruek Garden, located in the south of Chiang Mai, is better known by foreigners as the Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek, as this was the area of the former Inter­national Horticultural Exposition, "Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek Expo", held from 1 Nov 2006 to 31 Jan 2007. The Garden, originally developed for the Exposition, is part of a 470 rai (75 hectare) farming research area, and comprises several lakes and many buildings. The Royal Pavilion (Ho Kham Luang), a two-storey teak pavilion in Lanna architectural style, stands tall amid exquisite garden surroundings as a cultural landmark. Numerous tropical and sub­tropical plants have been grown, but very old trees are hardly to find there. The general garden design represents a contemporary Thai style which is typically representative and showy. Now, the area suits as a public garden, and for events and shows, and it is said to be a botanical learning center. There are many theme gardens, e.g. a palm garden, but a bamboo garden is missing.

The name, Chaloem Phrakiat Ratcha­phruek Garden (สวนเฉลิมพระเกียรติ ราชพฤกษ์), can be freely translated as Golden Shower Garden in Honor of The King. Ratcha­phruek (ราชพฤกษ์) is said to be the Thai common name of Cassia fistula L. (Leguminosae: Caes­alpin­oideae), a medium-sized tree with spectacular yellow flowers in drooping, 20-40 cm long clusters. These flowers are often referred to as Thailand's national flower, whose bright yellow color serves as a symbol of both Buddhism and royalty. Cassia fistula is widely known under the Thai common names ชัยพฤกษ์ (chai­phruek), or คูณ (khun), and under the English names Golden Shower, Yellow Cassia, Indian Laburnum, or Pudding Pine, whereas the Thai common name Ratcha­phruek (ราชพฤกษ์) has been applied to a different species, Cassia agnes, of the same genus.


Images

Photos can be found in the following set:

Bamboos at the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek

All images show plants at the Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek if not other­wise stated. The first two batches of photos were taken during rainy season on 28 June and 22 July 2009.


Bamboos found planted in the Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek

Bamboos are not a dominant feature in the Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek. I detected 13 different bamboos only. The main purpose of this visit was to search for flowering clumps of phai liang or phai liang wan, and indeed I found several culms in a stage of sporadic and intensive bloom, some of them going to die or were dead already. No single seed was found. Several clumps of this bamboo were labeled "Bambusa multiplex". Judging from vegetative characters, phai liang / phai liang wan (those that I observed in the Chiang Mai area so far) are not con­specific with Bambusa multiplex, the common Hedge Bamboo. Having flowers available now, an approach in species identification should be possible sooner or later.


(001) Schizostachyum brachycladum cv. Bali Kuning — ไผ่ทอง (phai thong)
This is the common yellow-stem variety of Schizo­stachyum brachy­cladum. The plant is flowering.

(002) ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
Phai liang was planted quite frequently. It is not known if all of this bamboo in the Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek comes from a single source. The plant shown here is tall, with dark green foliage leaves and light green young shoots with cinnamon tint. It closely resembles phai liang (BS-0001-1) except for the color of young shoots which are cinnamon-colored. Flowers could not been detected in this stand. The bamboo is labeled and mis­named as "Bambusa multiplex".

(003) Bambusa sp.
A tall thorny species of Bambusa with small leaves. I found old culm sheaths, which are hairy and have auricles with bristles. On a second visit, a single thin shoot was found having emerged from ground; its characters are as follows: Culms farinose when young, nodes with sheath scar ring black velvety, culm sheaths dull light yellowish-green when young, light brown when dry, culm sheath ligule conspicuous, culm sheath auricles and bristles lacking or inconspicuous, culm sheath blade reflexed. Foliage leaves small, twigs usually with 10 leaves, middle or dark green, glabrous on both sides, leaf sheath auricles and bristles none.

(004) Schizostachyum brachycladum cv. Ratchaphruek
This bamboo came to me as a surprise, as seen for the first time in Chiang Mai. Soon after, I found an even larger clump of the same variety grown at Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden. This variety has green stems with one to several yellow stripes of varying width. The dominant color of the stems is green, and the yellow stripes give this bamboo a nice appeal. The plant is in sporadic flower. Another variety with yellow stems (occasionally with a few narrow green stripes), known as ไผ่ทอง (phai thong), of Schizo­stachyum brachy­cladum is well known and frequently planted in the Chiang Mai area, and the wild green-stem variety is not found in cultivation in Chiang Mai (only seen once at Khamthiang Market as a sport of the yellow-stem variety).

(005) ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
Two plants of phai liang, trimmed as a column, grow in front of the pavilion of the Indonesian Garden. One plant is in sporadic flowering.

(006) Phyllostachys sp.
The Royal Project Garden is another theme garden, created by the Royal Project. This garden contains several bamboos, among them a green-stem species of Phyllo­stachys, which shows its invasive growth by numerous new shoots emerging from ground far off the original plant site.

(007) ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
Planted as a visual screen in the Royal Project Garden, this phai liang shows several clumps with flowers, and a few clumps died already from intensive flowering. This phai liang grows tall, has dark green foliage, and new shoots are green.

(008) Thyrsostachys siamensis
This species of Thyrso­stachys is grown in the Royal Project Garden. At my first visit, no new shoots could be detected in this clump, and no fresh culm sheaths. All mature and old culms had decaying attached culm sheaths, no single olive green culm was found, and I thought this species might be Thyrso­stachys oliveri. On a second visit, however, I found a few new shoots. Their culm sheaths clearly show an convex-truncate apex, which is characteristic of Thyrso­stachys siamensis, whereas the sheath apex is straight truncate in Thyrso­stachys oliveri. Other characters found in this clump: In young shoots, the culm sheath blade is typically erect and not reflexed, and culm sheath ligule is convex and entire. Foliage leaf blades have a few sparsely distributed upright light hairs on the upper surface.

(009) Unidentified bamboo
An unidentified bamboo was found in the Royal Project Garden; the inter­nodes rough, bluish-green, culm sheaths deciduous, hairy, much shorter than the internode, culm sheath blade reflexed, branches several with one dominant branch, foliage leaf blades small, green to bluish-green, glabrous on both sides, culm leaf sheaths covered with light colored hairs, leaf sheath auricles small, bristles present.

(010) Unidentified bamboo
Another unidentified bamboo was found outside of the Royal Project Garden, on its western side; the inter­nodes glabrous, nodes with multiple branches, sub­equal, occasionally with one dominant branch, culm sheaths glabrous, culm sheath ligule long, fringed, foliage leaf blades glabrous on both sides, medium-sized, leaf sheath green to orange, glabrous, leaf sheath auricles and bristles present.

(011) Phyllostachys sp.
Grown as a pot plant, a species of Phyllo­stachys with yellow stems was found.

(012) ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
Phai liang was planted as a hedge at the entrance of the Japanese Garden. The plant shows dark green foliage leaves and green young shoots. At closer sight, a few branches were found flowering, some of them topping the hedge.

(013) Bambusa multiplex
True Bambusa multiplex was planted as a hedge around the Vietnamese Garden. No flowers were found.

(014) ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
Around the Chinese Garden, several individual clumps of phai liang, with dark green foliage leaves, were planted, one of them found in flower. Many of these clumps were only few culms left and show stumps, probably because flowering culms were removed by the gardeners.

(015) ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
In the far rear of the Royal Pavilion, along the boundary of the Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek, a row of phai liang (with dark green foliage leaves) was planted on a dry ridge over a length of several hundred meters. It is trimmed as a rather tall hedge and has to be irrigated frequently. This hedge inhabits numerous branches with flowers, and even some dying culms show merely flowers and no leaves.

(016) Bambusa glaucophylla
Thai people like trimmed plants, and plants of the species Bambusa glauco­phylla provide best conditions to be shaped into balls. Examples can be seen on a sunny lawn slope near the central lake. However, a few balls partly reverted to the green wild form of Bambusa glauco­phylla and run out of shape.

(017) Bambusa vulgaris cv. Wamin
What is possible to be shaped as a ball is not restricted to Bambusa glauco­phylla. Buddha's Belly Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris cv. Wamin) has proven to be useful for same treat­ment, and the shortened, inflated stems of this bamboo, usually proudly shown by cutting off branches, are bashfully covered by a mass of trimmed foliage.

(018) Bambusa blumeana — ไผ่สรีสุก (phai si suk)
Another thorny bamboo with old culms pale orange-yellow; it becomes a giant and is found wild and frequently cultivated in rural areas around Chiang Mai.

(019) Pleioblastus sp. ?
A low bamboo which seems to be a species of Pleio­blastus from temperate regions of China or Japan was found on a second visit of the Royal Project Garden. As a runner, this bamboo appears on various spots in the garden, and was tried to get under control by cutting it back. The culms are terete, bluish-green, rough to touch, nodes with several branches, one dominant, branching intra­vaginal, culms sheaths not or late deciduous, hairy, with auricles and long bristles, leaf sheaths green, leaf sheath auricles small, bristles long, leaf sheath ligule inconspicuous or none, leaf blades small to medium-sized, green, glabrous, slightly pubescent beneath when young.

Bamboos on the Royal Project Fair 13-16 Dec 2008

Location

Chiang Mai University Convention Hall (หอประชุมมหาวิทยาลัยเชียงใหม่), Nimman­hemin Road (ถนนนิมมานเหมินท์), about 1 kilo­meter west of the old city of Chiang Mai.


Images

Photos taken from bamboos at the Royal Project Fair are included in the following set:

Bamboos on Fairs in Chiang Mai

All images show plants at the Fair if not otherwise stated.


Bamboos found presented and offered for sale on the Fair

The annually hold Royal Project Fair (งานโครงการหลวง) is confined to products from the Royal Project, along with information booths and shows. Presented and offered for sale is chiefly food, but also some useful things for every­day life made by hill tribes, useful plants like herbs and some fruit trees, and even a few bamboos. Apparently, the bamboos are those cultivated at the Bamboo Collection of the Royal Project in Chiang Mai.

Phyllostachys makinoi — ไผ่มากินหน่อย (phai makinnoi)
Pseudosasa japonica — ไผ่ลูกศร (phai luk son)
Bambusa burmanica — ไผ่บงหวานเมีองเลย (phai bong wan mueang loei)
Bambusa oldhamii — ไผ่หยก (phai yok)
Dendrocalamus latiflorus — ไผ่หวานอ่างขาง (phai wan ang khang)

The first two bamboos are runners, the other three clumpers. The Thai name of Bambusa burmanica refers to Loei (in northern Isan), and perhaps this bamboo originates from this area, the north­eastern part of Thai­land. All other bamboos are not native to Thai­land. These and several other bamboos were introduced to the Royal Project site on Doi Ang Khang (northern part of Chiang Mai Province) many years ago, and have been distributed and promoted by the Royal Project since they have proven to be useful as well as suitable to climatic conditions in northern regions of Thailand.

Bamboos on Mae Cho Agricultural Fair 4-10 Dec 2008

Location

Campus area of Mae Cho University (มหาวิทยาลัยแม่โจ้), located in Mae Cho (แม่โจ้) of San Sai district (อำเภอสันทราย), about 13 kilo­meters north of Chiang Mai, or 9.5 km off Super High­way (#11) on National Road #1001 towards Phrao.
Frequent transcription variants of Mae Cho are 'Mae Jo' and 'Maejo'.


Images

Photos taken from bamboos at Mae Cho Agri­cultural Fair are included in the following set:

Bamboos on Fairs in Chiang Mai

All images show plants at the Fair if not otherwise stated.


Bamboos found presented and offered for sale on the Fair

As part of the 75th anniversary of Mae Cho University, the Agricultural Fair was like a big plant and food market with shows. Along the avenues of the campus, there were numerous booths from plant nurseries all over Thailand. The majority of plant stalls are specialized in usable plants (chiefly fruit trees) and garden ornamentals (chiefly orchids and bromeliads). Many vendors labeled their plants but in Thai only. Bamboos were found scattered in a few stalls. They were either useful bamboos (shoots for diet) or ornamentals. All plant vendors brought to the Fair not only common and cheap plants but also plants which are rare or not frequently offered some­where else. As for bamboos, no single commonly offered variety was found, all bamboos were rare, unique, or little known locally, and a few have not been detected else­where in Chiang Mai so far.

The first booth was of a vendor from Prachin Buri, central Thai­land, specialized in fruit trees. He offered three bamboos with good taste of young shoots: ไผ่เลี้ยงหวาน (phai liang wan); ไผ่ตง (phai tong), which he said to be ไผ่ตงดำ (phai tong dam), one of the variants with delicious shoots of Dendro­calamus asper; ไผ่กินดิบ (phai kin dip), which he said is the same as ไผ่หลีจู (phai li chu), and that the shoots of phai kin dip can be eaten raw (as the Thai name suggests).

The second booth was of a vendor from Kanchana­buri, central Thai­land, who offered some rare and expensive bamboos: ไผ่กิมซุ่ง (phai kim sung), a favorite bamboo for shoot production; ไผ่ยักษ์ (phai yak), Dendro­calamus giganteus, one of the bamboo giants. Among his ornamental bamboos, he offered Phyllo­stachys nigra f. nigra (with black culms), a variety of Chimono­bambusa quadrangularis (with yellow culms), both from China, and the black-stem Bambusa lako which originates from Timor. The most striking ornamental was a bamboo with striped leaves: ไผ่ต่างกาญจนา (phai tang kan­chana), or ไผ่ข้าวกาญจนา (phai khao kan­chana). He said, this bamboo grows up to 5 m tall and has a running rhizome, and he showed me two photos (a stand of this plant, yet immature, as it grows on his land). The foliage leave blades are vividly striped of varying width in white or cream. The Thai word 'tang' means 'various', 'kan­chana' means 'gold', and 'khao' means 'rice'. At first sight, I assumed this species to be Hibano­bambusa tranquillans, a runner which originates from southern Honshu (Japan) and has been introduced as a garden ornamental into several countries world­wide, especially its striped variety. However, Hibano­bambusa has leaf-sheaths with con­spicuous bristles, whereas the few potted plants he offered, which were not in a good state, do not show any bristles. Hence, its identification remains unclear. I got to know that there exists a plant under the Thai name "phai tang kan­chana" in cultivation in the Philippines (C.T., pers. comm., 6 March 2009), the photos of which matches with the plants of this vendor from Kan­chana­buri, and leaf-sheaths are without bristles. The Philippine plant, however, is said not to be a runner but a clumper. Some bamboos which are actually runners may form initially a tight clump and remain compact for several years until they reach an adult stage. On the other hand, there are clumpers which develop long rhizome necks, thus forming an open-spaced clump when adult. One needs to observe the plants over the years, or to excavate a plant to see its rhizome type to come to a definite judgement.

A third booth was of a vendor from Prachin Buri, central Thai­land, specialized in fruit trees, who offered only one bamboo, labeled ไผ่หวาน (phai wan), which I suppose is actually ไผ่เลี้ยงหวาน (phai liang wan).

A fourth booth belonged to a vendor who has his plant shop near BigC at Lampang, northern Thai­land. He offered only one bamboo with bluish-green inter­nodes, labeled ไผ่ตงหวานปักกิ่ง (phai tong wan pak king), which means a sweet-shoot variety of phai tong (Dendro­calamus asper) propagated by culm cuttings. He remarked, however, that this bamboo is not true ไผ่ตง (phai tong).

A fifth booth was of a vendor from Saraphi, a district not far south of Chiang Mai on the way to Lamphun. He offered three useful varieties of bamboo: ไผ่เลี้ยงหวาน (phai liang wan) from Prachin Buri; ไผ่กิมซุ่ง (phai kim sung); ไผ่หวานช่อแฮ (phai wan cho hae) from Phrae.

A sixth booth was of a vendor from Prachin Buri, central Thai­land, specialized in fruit trees, who offered only one shoot production bamboo, labeled ไผ่หวาน (phai wan) and ไผ่หม่าจู (phai ma chu), which is apparently Dendro­calamus latiflorus.

Further, there was a seventh booth of a plant nursery from Suthep sub­district of Chiang Mai, with a bias on garden ornamentals and fragrant plants. Photos were not taken from bamboos at this booth. They offered potted plants of Phyllo­stachys nigra f. nigra (with black culms), and one green-stem plant of Chimono­bambusa quadrangularis.

Bamboos at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection, Chiang Mai

Location

Postal Address:
Bamboo Collection, Royal Project Foundation,
Ban Pa Chi, T. Mae Hia, A. Mueang, Chiang Mai, 50200, Thailand
บ้านป่าจี้ ตำบลแม่เหียะ อำเภอเมือง จังหวัดเชียงใหม่ ๕๐๒๐๐

Map:
Grid J1 in BS Route Map 1.


Direction

From Chiang Mai, a few miles on Chaing Mai – Hang Dong Road (#108) in southern direction towards Hang Dong, turn right at inter­section on Road to Night Safari (#3044), cross the Irrigation Canal Road (#121), heading Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek (site of the Inter­national Horti­cultural Exposition, 2006), enter the circle ahead, and exit the circle on the street that borders the right side of the Royal Flora Ratcha­phruek. Stay on this road for a few hundred meters. The area of the Royal Project Bamboo Collection is located on the right side, surrounded by a tall screen of bamboos.


Description of Site

The Royal Project Bamboo Collection is part of the Royal Project Foundation and com­prises an area of about 20 rai with over 20 bamboo species and variants. The Bamboo Collection has a bias in useful bamboos adapted to local climate, chiefly bamboos for shoot production. These bamboos will be propagated and distributed to those farmers who are members of the Royal Project.

There are three species cultivated extensively in numerous clumps: Dendro­calamus lati­florus, Bambusa oldhamii, and Bambusa burmanica. The first two species attained tall height but have not yet reached their ultimate height, whereas the latter is grown as a young plantation and their culms reached about 2 meters height by December 2008, and 4 meters and more by August 2009. The whole area of the Royal Project Bamboo Collection is screened along its border by tall clumps of a species of Thyrso­stachys. There are several other species and varieties of bamboos planted in limited number in a not very large area, and a few other, still immature species are kept as pot plants.


Images

Photos can be found in the following set:

Bamboos at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection

All images show plants at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection if not other­wise stated. The first batch of photos was taken in December 2008, during cool season, when nearly all new culms of bamboos have reached maturity. The second batch of photos was taken on 9 and 10 August 2009 during rainy season, when nearly all species had developed new shoots and fresh culm sheats were available.


List of Bamboos (I)

The following is a commented list of bamboos (identified and un­identified) viewed at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection. First, the common Thai name is given in Thai script, followed in brackets by its Romanized name, then by its botanical name if known.

(01) ไผ่หวานอ่างขาง (phai wan ang khang), ไผ่หม่าจู (phai ma chu) — Dendro­calamus latiflorus
The Thai name, phai ma chu, is certainly a corruption of the Chinese name, 麻竹 (ma zhu) [ma = hemp, jute, flax; zhu = bamboo], for D. latiflorus. This species has been introduced from Taiwan to the Royal Project at Doi Ang Khang many years ago.

(02) ไผ่หยก (phai yok) — Bambusa oldhamii
Culm internodes smooth, glabrous; culm sheaths light orange when young, glabrous; culm sheath ligule short and entire; sheath auricles and bristles present.
Two Thai names are given for this species: ไผ่หยก (phai yok) and ไผ่หลี่จู๋ (phai li chu) (1043: 3). The latter Thai name is certainly a corruption of the Chinese name, 绿竹 (lü zhu, or lu zhu) [lü = green, chlorine; zhu = bamboo], for B. oldhamii. The Thai name ไผ่หลี่จู๋ (phai li chu), including some transcription variants, might have been erroneously applied to one or two other species, too. I have not yet checked if the plants at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection correspond with description/drawing of B. oldhamii, and with plants of this species in the USA. This species has been introduced from Taiwan to the Royal Project at Doi Ang Khang many years ago.

(03) ไผ่บงหวานเมีองเลย (phai bong wan mueang loei) — Bambusa burmanica
Culms: ultimate height not recorded. Nodes of lower branches occasionally with small thorns. Culm sheaths with brown hairs, sheath margin ciliate; culm sheath auricles large. Young shoots of this bamboo are delicious and can be eaten raw (I tried and can confirm).
Following the description by Kew and line drawing by Tropicos, Bambusa burmanica is not armed with thorns, and the culms can reach 20 meters.
A thorny bamboo, ไผ่บงหนาม (phai bong nam), is also recorded to represent B. burmanica (1047; 1003: 65), but no bamboo under this name has been seen so far.

(04) ไผ่กิมซุง (phai kim sung) — Bambusa beecheyana
Sheath scar ring of culm nodes with brown hairs; culm sheaths with some rigid dark hairs when young, glabrous when dry; culm sheath ligule long, fringed and split, auricles none.

(05) ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
Young shoots green. Culm internodes dark green; nodes with broad bud; culm sheath apex horizontal-truncate; culm sheath ligule con­spicuous, fringed, broader than base of sheath blade; culm sheath blade long-narrow, reflexed. The sheath blade of this plant is very similar to those of ไผ่เลียะ (phai lia) at Huai Hong Khrai.

(06) ไผ่ซาง (phai sang) ? — Dendro­calamus strictus ?
Internodes middle-green, glabrous; foliage leaves 12-20(25) cm long and 1.8-2.7(3.2) cm wide.

(07) ไผ่หกวัดจันทร์ (phai hok wat chan) — Dendrocalamus sinicus
Culms under marcotting procedure. Culm internodes slightly rough, covered with brownish fuzz when young; culm sheaths pale reddish brown, covered with dark hairs; culm sheath ligule small; culm sheath auricles none or inconspicuous; culm sheath blades erect or nearly so; foliage leaf blades green, glabrous on both sides, 16-28 cm long, 5.5-7 cm wide.
This bamboo was collected in วัดจันทร์ (Wat Chan), แม่แจ่ม (Mae Chaem) district of Chiang Mai province.

(08) ไผ่มันหมู (phai man mu), ไผ่เป๊าะ (phai po) — Dendro­calamus copelandii
Culm internodes bluish-green, glabrous, farinose; branches 5, central one dominant; culm sheaths brown, covered with dark hairs; culm sheath blades reflexed; foliage leaves green, glabrous on both sides, 21-25 cm long, 5-6 cm wide.
This bamboo was collected in น่าน (Nan) province. The plant is in flower (Aug. 2009).

(09) Bambusa sp.
A bamboo similar to ไผ่บง (phai bong), received from Lampang. Culms solid on the lower part; internodes covered with white soft hairs when young, rough when mature; branches several, one dominant; foliage leave blades medium-sized, 26-30 cm long, 2.4-3.5 cm wide.

(10) Phyllostachys bambusoides
Leaf sheaths with long bristles. This species is in flower at Doi Ang Khang.

(11) Phyllostachys makinoi
Culms yellowish-green; leaf sheaths with long white bristles.

(12) Pseudosasa japonica

(13) Phyllostachys lithophila
Culms yellowish-green; foliage leaves with auricles and bristles.

(14) ไผ่ทอง (phai thong) — Schizo­stachyum brachy­cladum cv. Bali Kuning
Culms bright orange-yellow, with an occasional green stripe; foliage leaf blades slightly pubescent beneath. This plant is flowering.

(15) ไผ่รวก (phai ruak) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
Culm sheaths dark green when young, sheath apex truncate, convex-waved. The property boundary of the Royal Project Bamboo Collection is screened by this species.

(16) Unidentified bamboo
Culms fuzzy; culm sheaths covered with dark hairs; foliage leaf blades glabrous. Similar to Dendrocalamus brandisii.

(17) ไผ่บงป่า (phai bong pa) — Bambusa nutans ?, Bambusa longispatha ?
Culm internodes glabrous; young shoots and basal internodes occasionally striped cream; culm sheaths partly covered with dark hairs; culm sheath auricles large.

(18) ไผ่ตงเขียว (phai tong khiao) — Dendrocalamus asper cv. Thai Green
Internodes of lower culm rough, covered with brown fuzz, branches slightly rough or glabrous; foliage leaf blades glabrous.

(19) ไผ่หกหวานลำปาง (phai hok wan lampang) — Dendro­calamus hamiltonii
Culm internodes slightly rough; culm sheaths covered with dark hairs; culm sheath ligule long, fringed; culm sheath auricles with curled bristles; culm sheath blades reflexed; foliage leaf blades glabrous.

(20) ไผ่ซางดอย (phai sang doi), ไผ่ซางป่า (phai sang pa) — Dendro­calamus membranaceus
Young shoots not seen. Culm internodes glabrous; culm sheaths hairy; culm sheath ligule long, fringed; culm sheath auricles none; foliage leaves rather small, twig usually with 6-9 leaves, leaf blades glabrous, longest leaf blades 13 cm by 11 mm width.
This bamboo is apparently the wild form of Dendro­calamus membranaceus. Whether ไผ่ซางนวล (phai sang nuan), perhaps a cultivated form of Dendro­calamus membranaceus, differs from the wild form is currently not known.

(21) ไผ่ซางเขียว (phai sang khiao) — Dendro­calamus barbatus
Young shoots dark purplish or violet, hairy. Culm internodes glabrous; branches many, central branch much dominant. Culm sheath ligule very long, fringed; culm sheath auricles and bristles none; culm sheath blade reflexed. Foliage leaf blades glabrous.

(22) Dendrocalamus sp.
Origin not recorded, perhaps from Chiang Rai. Young shoots covered with black hairs, with culm sheath blades reflexed. Culm internodes covered with light-colored fuzz when young; culm nodes with large buds, several branches develop, one dominant.

(23) ไผ่ไร่ (phai rai) — Pseudoxytenanthera albociliata, syn. Gigantochloa albociliata
Culm internodes glabrous; basal part of culm sheaths densely covered with black hairs; culm sheath blade reflexed; foliage leaf blades glabrous; leaf sheaths covered with light-colored hairs.

(24) ไผ่รวกแดง (phai ruak daeng) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
This bamboo is said to represent phai ruak daeng and being different from (15). However, I could not yet detect any distinctive characters.

(25) ไผ่ซางหม่น (phai sang mon) — Dendrocalamus sericeus
Culm internodes farinose, thick-walled (3rd internode above ground with wall 3.2 cm thick by 11.5 cm culm diameter); culm sheaths reddish, upper part of sheath covered with dark hairs; culm sheath ligule large, irregular-shaped, margin notched; culm sheath blade reflexed; foliage leaf blades glabrous.

(26) ไผ่เหลือง (phai lueang) — Bambusa vulgaris cv. Striata


List of Bamboos (II)

Other bamboos grown at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection which have not yet viewed, or not thoroughly viewed, and photos were not taken yet.

ไผ่บงใหญ่ (phai bong yai), ไผ่ซางเย็น (phai sang yen) — Dendro­calamus brandisii
Grows on river bank at Doi Ang Khan.

Bambusa oldhamii, small variety

Phyllostachys nigra f. nigra
Culms black.

Phyllostachys edulis
The plant grows weak at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection, but well at Doi Ang Khang.

ไผ่โอดาชิมา (phai odachima) — Bambusa odashimae, Bambusa edulis — [available?]

ไผ่เงิน (phai ngoen); ไผ่ลายเงิน (phai lai ngoen) — Bambusa glaucophylla

ไผ่น้ำเต้า (phai nam tao) — Bambusa vulgaris cv. Wamin

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis
Culms rounded square in cross section, nodes with root thorns. Kept as pot plant.

ไผ่ตงดำ (phai tong dam) — Dendrocalamus asper cv. [1]

ไผ่มันหมู (phai man mu) — Dendrocalamus copelandii, Bambusa copelandii — [available?]

ไผ่หกลำ (phai hok lam) — Gigantochloa macro­stachya — [available?]

หลอด (lot), ไผ่โป (phai po) {2}; ไผ่เมี่ยงไฟ (phai miang fai) {2} — Schizo­stachyum aciculare — [available as pot plant]

ไผ่รวกดำ (phai ruak dam) — Thyrso­stachys oliveri
Said to be planted at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection, but not sure if plants represent this species, perhaps they are Thyrso­stachys siamensis.


Acknowledgement

This inventory could not have been done with the generous permission and help of Mr. Kittisak Jindawong, Forest Research Officer at the Royal Project Bamboo Collection.

Bamboos at Huai Hong Khrai, Doi Saket, Chiang Mai

Location

Postal Address:
Huai Hong Khrai, Royal Development Study Center, A. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, 50220, Thailand
ศูนย์ศึกษาการพัฒนาห้วยฮ่องไคร้ อันเนื่องมาจากพระราชดำริ อำเภอดอยสะเก็ด จังหวัดเชียงใหม่ ๕๐๒๒๐

Google Map: District of Doi Saket


Direction

Northeast of Chiang Mai: About 10 kilometers beyond Doi Saket district village (or about 25 km from Super Highway #11) along Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai Road (#118), direction Chiang Rai, on the right hand side.


Description of Site

Huai Hong Khrai is one of the six Royal Development Study Centers in Thailand, and part of the Royal Project Foundation. The centers are dedicated to studies and experimentations in all aspects of agroforestry and ecology. Huai Hong Khrai is situated within the Pa Khun Mae Kuang National Reserved Forest, and it covers an area of 1,360 hectares.

The bamboo section is located near the Forest Research and Development Center, and comprises some 30 bamboo species and varieties, both village bamboos and wild species.


Images

Photos can be found in the following set:

Bamboos at Huai Hong Khrai, Chiang Mai

All images show plants at Huai Hong Khrai if not otherwise stated. The photos were taken in November 2008, the beginning of the cool season, when nearly all new culms of bamboos have reached maturity. This is not the best time to take photos for the purpose of bamboo identification. In need are young shoots, fresh culm leaves, young internodes and nodes, which were not available during this season. Next year will render possible taking such photos.


List of Bamboos

The following is a commented list of bamboos (identified and un­identified) viewed at Huai Hong Khrai. The list is arranged alpha­betically by Romanized (transcribed) Thai bamboo name, as applied at Huai Hong Khrai. First, the common Thai name is given in Thai script, followed in brackets by its Romanized name, then by its botanical name if known.


ไผ่บง (phai bong) — Bambusa nutans ?
Overall appearance of phai bong is very similar to phai bong pa. Main differences are taller height and straight culms in phai bong. Phai bong shows whitish bands on the node just above and below the sheath scar ring. This character becomes less clear in rather old culms, and is not distinctive for this species as several related species show this character, too. Phai bong is a village bamboo and often found cultivated in the Chiang Mai region. Therefore, this bamboo is also called phai bong ban ("ban" means house, village).

ไผ่บงป่า (phai bong pa) — Bambusa sp.
Culms of phai bong pa are often not straight but somewhat flexuous, and are of less height than phai bong. Phai bong pa is usually not cultivated but frequently found wild.

ไผ่บงหวาน (phai bong wan) [1]
This bamboo is very similar in its vegetative characters, e.g. culm sheaths, with phai bong and phai bong pa. Its culms reach only a few meters, perhaps 5 meters height. Internodes rough to touch; culm-sheaths deciduous, covered with dark brown hairs, culm-sheath ligule present; culm-sheath auricles present on both sides, large; foliage leaf-sheaths with ciliate margins. This bamboo is also very similar to my #031 and only a slight difference in habit could be found so far: Culms of #031 are a little taller, the lower part of culms is straight, the upper part is bending outward to a less degree than in phai bong wan. Both bamboos seem to result from an early clonal selection. Shoots of both bamboos, although small, are said to be delicious; "wan" means sweet.

ไผ่บงหวาน (phai bong wan) [2]
Another bamboo named "bong wan" which is apparently distinct from the preceding, has a nice appearance but has little similarity, if at all, with phai bong. On 17 July 2009, photos were taken from culms and young shoots, which rises the hope that identification will be possible later. Culm sheaths were not available at that time. The clump seems to develop widely spaced culms but this is probably a wrong pattern caused by over-exploiting of young shoots. A culm cut slightly above ground does not show thick culm walls.

ไผ่เฮียะ (phai hia) — Schizostachyum virgatum, syn. Cephalo­stachyum virgatum
Internodes with short white "hairs" when young (or farinose?); culm-sheaths with few brown hairs when young.

ไผ่หก (phai hok) — Dendrocalamus hamiltonii

ไผ่กำไล (phai kam lai)
Perhaps a species of Dendrocalamus. Culms not tall, maybe reach 5 m height.

ไผ่ข้าวหลาม (phai khao lam) — Schizostachyum pergracile, syn. Cephalostachyum pergracile

ไผ่โคลนลาย (phai khlon lai)
This bamboo has dull green and yellowish stripes: "khlon" means mud, and "lai" stripes. Culm-sheaths persistent or late deciduous.

ไผ่ลำมะลอก (phai lam malok) — Bambusa longispiculata ?
Internodes glabrous; culm-sheaths reddish when young, covered with dark hairs; branch nodes have thorns. As the culms form a more open clump, the clumps can become bigger than those of other bamboos. Another Thai name for this species, ไผ่ใหญ่กอ (phai yai ko), alludes to the clump size: "yai" means big, large, and "ko" means clump. This bamboo is probably not Bambusa longispiculata (compare with photos in bambooweb.info). There is a sign "Dendrocalamus longispathus" on one of the culms, but this is a misidentification (compare photos in bambootech.org).

ไผ่เลียะ (phai lia)
Lower and mid part of culms stiffly straight, slightly bending outward above; culms rather tall, estimated 20 meters, internodes bright green. This species has ornamental value and is very similar to phai liang from Khamthiang Market, including my phai liang (#001-1). Culm-sheaths seem to be identical, and the only difference might be a taller height of phai lia. No bamboo under the name, phai lia, has found published, and this name applied by the staff may turn out to be a misconception.

ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang) [1]
This bamboo is very similar in overall appearance to phai lia as well as phai liang from Khamthiang Market, but its culm-sheaths are so markedly different that it might well represent a different species. It shares the same ornamental characters and might reach the same tall height as phai lia.

ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang) [2]
Another clump which is very likely phai liang as is known from Khamthiang Market. Unfortunately, culm sheaths and young shoots were not available when taking photos on 17 July 2009. Probably, this clump was cleaned-up recently and many old culms were removed.

ไผ่เหลือง (phai lueang) — Bambusa vulgaris cv. Striata
This bamboo is frequently planted in Huai Hong Khrai, and widley planted or naturalized in the Chiang Mai area. Photos were not taken.

ไผ่มาจู (phai ma chu) — Dendrocalamus latiflorus
Species introduced. Internodes glabrous; culm-sheaths with dark hairs chiefly on lower part of sheath; foliage leaves glabrous on both sides; young shoots bluish-green with orange-yellow tip. This species is said to prefer a higher content of moisture in the soil than most other bamboos.

ไผ่น้ำเต้า (phai nam tao) — Bambusa vulgaris cv. Wamin
A well-known ornamental bamboo frequently found in cultivation, no photos were taken.

ไผ่เงิน (phai ngoen) — Bambusa glaucophylla
A well-known ornamental bamboo frequently found in cultivation, no photos were taken.

ไผ่พม่า (phai phama)
This bamboo is said to originate from Burma (phama = Burma). Perhaps a species of Dendrocalamus.

ไผ่ไร่ (phai rai) — Pseudoxytenanthera albociliata ?
Phai rai is said to be a widespread bamboo in the forests of Thailand, Burma and Laos, of little use to men, and therefore hardly found cultivated in villages. Lacking culm sheaths and young shoots, identification has not attempted. The clump has stems about 5 m tall and 2 cm in diameter.

ไผ่ไร่ลอ (phai rai lo)
Culms about 5 m tall. Identification wanted. In Thai publications, the names phai rai and phai rai lo denotate different bamboos.

ไผ่รวก (phai ruak) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
There are several Thai names associated with phai ruak: phai ruak pa, phai ruak ban, phai ruak daeng, and phai ruak dam. It seems to me that the first three names represent one species, Thyrsostachys siamensis, and phai ruak dam is applied to Thyrsostachys oliveri only. There might be differences in characters within Thyrsostachys siamensis, but it is not clear so far if all the Thai names point to such differences or not. Phai ruak ban is considered to be a tall and cultivated variety. There are several rather tall plants on the site, among them the tallest with internodes 24-29 cm long, 5-7 cm in diameter, and they seem to represent phai ruak ban. The Thai name, phai ruak daeng, seems to be occasionally applied to phai ruak ban synonymously. The photos in the album under the name phai ruak could possibly show the cultivated variety, phai ruak ban.

ไผ่รวกบ้าน (phai ruak ban) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
Characters that would distinguish between phai ruak ban and phai ruak daeng could not be found.

ไผ่รวกแดง (phai ruak daeng) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
Characters that would distinguish between phai ruak ban and phai ruak daeng could not be found.

ไผ่รวกดำ (phai ruak dam) — Thyrsostachys oliveri ?
There are several tall plants on the site: internodes 23-27 cm long, 4-5 cm in diameter. I was told, phai ruak ban / phai ruak daeng grows some­what taller than phai ruak dam. I compared the plants that were told me to be phai ruak dam with phai ruak ban / phai ruak daeng, but I failed to find any character that would distinguish them.

ไผ่รวกป่า (phai ruak pa) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
Foresters distinguish between phai ruak pa (pa = wood, forest), a wild form of Thyrsostachys siamensis, and phai ruak ban (ban = house, village), the latter a much taller and stronger form widely and commonly planted in gardens. The only difference between these two forms seems to be culm size (height and diameter). On the grounds of Huai Hong Khrai, there is one clump of phai ruak pa, but several of phai ruak ban.

ไผ่ซาง (phai sang) — Dendrocalamus strictus ?
This bamboo was obtained from Taiwan. There are similarities with phai sang, but identification of this species is in question.

ไผ่ซางหม่น (phai sang mon) — Dendrocalamus sericeus
A tall bamboo with farinose young culms, similar to Dendrocalamus strictus, and often grown in plantations.

ไผ่ซางหม่น (phai sang mon) [2] — Dendrocalamus sericeus
Another clump of phai sang mon, but no shoots and culm sheaths available, hence identification is preliminary.

ไผ่ซางป่า (phai sang pa) — Dendrocalamus strictus ?
Phai sang pa is said to be a bamboo from the wild (pa = wood, forest). Perhaps this bamboo represents a wild form of Dendrocalamus strictus, as the Thai name suggests, but has not yet examined.

ไผ่สีสุก (phai si suk) — Bambusa blumeana

ไผ่ด้ามขวาน (phai tam khwan)
This bamboo is similar in appearance to phai lia and phai liang, but the culms are less tall and the internodes not of bright green but dull green. The basal part of this bamboo is solid or nearly so, and said to be preferably used for making axe handles. The Thai name alludes to this usage: "tam khwan" means handle of axe. Shoots are said to be delicious.

ไผ่ทอง (phai thong) — Schizostachyum brachycladum cv. Bali Kuning
No photos were taken as this bamboo is well-known from Khamthiang Market.

ไผ่ตงขนาดเล็ก (phai tong khanat lek) — Dendrocalamus asper cv.
Not sure, if this bamboo is truly a Dendrocalamus asper variety, but it seems to be closely related to. It might be the same bamboo that is known from literature as phai tong nu, or phai tong lek. Culms erect, forming a tight clump, perhaps 8-10 m tall; internodes 4-5 cm in diameter, slightly rough, covered with short white hairs when young; culm-sheaths covered with dark brown or blackish hairs; culm-sheath ligule prominent, culm-sheath blade small, reflexed.

Species of Phyllostachys
There is grown one species of Phyllostachys with green culms; Thai name not recorded.


Acknowledgement

This inventory could not have been done with the generous permission of Mr. Kanit (คุณคณิต), Head of the Center, and the help of his subordinates, Mr. Kasem (คุณเกษม) and Mrs. Si Thong (คุณสีทอง), who informed me about the Thai bamboo names and gave further invaluable details on certain species.

Bamboos in Chiang Mai and Vicinity

Location

Google Map: Area of Chiang Mai.


Images

Photos can be found in the following set:

Bamboos in Chiang Mai and Vicinity

All images show plants in and around Chiang Mai, if not otherwise stated.


List of bamboos

The following is a list of bamboo stands. The list is arranged alpha-numerically by identification number of bamboo stand. Under each identification number only 1 bamboo stand (comprising only 1 bamboos species) at a specific location is treated. If known, the Thai bamboo name is given in Thai script, followed by its Romanized (transcribed) name, and the botanical name. By June 2009, this list comprises only a few species, and will be extended over the time.


CM-001 — ไผ่สรีสุก (phai si suk) — Bambusa blumeana
Location: Private garden in Ban Pa Yang Poi, T. Pa Lan, A. Doi Saket.
A giant thorny bamboo, habit characterized by tall erect and wide bending culms and impenetrable clump base, often planted or occurs wild or naturalized, near villages and along rivers, canals and ditches. Culms of thick diameter but thin-walled.
Comments: Local people call this bamboo ไผ่สรีสุก (phai si suk). Identified as Bambusa blumeana [C.T.].

CM-002 — ไผ่บง (phai bong)
Location: Same private garden as CM-001.
A large bamboo, often seen grown in gardens, culms dark green, not thorny, habit characterized by short branches and drooping culm top.
New shoots brownish green or green, with big culm sheath blade, not reflexed; young internodes farinose; young nodes with a broad ring in light color.
Comments: Local people call this bamboo ไผ่บง (phai bong). Identified as Bambusa tulda [C.T., citing Maxwell], ไผ่บง (phai bong), or ไผ่บงดำ (phai bong dam) (North), ไผ่หางช้าง (phai hang chang) (Kanchanaburi). The photos in BambooWeb.info do match with phai bong to some degree but are not sufficient to reach a final conclusion. Line drawings of culm sheath in tropicos show more similarity with B. tuldoides than B. tulda.

CM-003 — ไผ่สรีสุก (phai si suk) — Bambusa blumeana
Location: On roadside near Ban Kok Mon.
Comments: Same species as CM-001.

CM-004 — ไผ่เหลือง (phai lueang) — Bambusa vulgaris cv. Striata
Location: On roadside along a ditch near Ban Kok Mon.
A medium-sized bamboo, often seen grown in gardens or found naturalized near ditches and canals. Easily recognizable by its bright yellow internodes with a few narrow green stripes. Foliage leaf blades medium-sized, green, glabrous on both sides.
Comments: Identified as a yellow-stem variety of Bambusa vulgaris [C.T.].

CM-005 — Unidentified bamboo 1
Location: Grown in a private garden in a village, Ban Kok Mon.
A large bamboo, nodes thornless.

CM-006 — ไผ่ป่า (phai pa)
Location: Grown wild or naturalized at a ditch/canal nearby Ban Pa Lan, T. Pa Lan, A. Doi Saket.
A medium-sized bamboo, nodes with thorns, impenetrable clump base.
Comments: Identified as Bambusa bambos (B. arundinacea) [C.T.], Thai name is ไผ่ป่า (phai pa), but other Thai names are in use, too. "Pa" means "wild", "wood", "grove", "forest", and the Thai name could be translated as "wild bamboo", indicating that this species occurs in the wild and is usually not kept in cultivation in gardens.

CM-007 — Unidentified bamboo 2, similar to ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang) [BS-0001-1]
Location: Planted as a screen on the grounds of Rim Ping Super­market, Airport Branch, Mueang district, Chiang Mai.
A mid-size bamboo very similar in characters and habit to ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang), but young shoots middle green, mature culms orange to orange-green, foliage leaf blades middle green to light green, and culm leaves slightly different in shape. The shape of the culm leaves is some­what inter­mediate between Bambusa multiplex (BS-0111) and phai liang (BS-0001-1), whereas the shape of foliage leaves resembles phai liang. Questions may arise whether the orange colored stems derive from sun exposure only, and the light green color of foliage leaves from soil conditions.
Description: Rhizomes pachymorph, short-necked, forming a tight clump. Culms erect, slightly bending over from weight of foliage, height estimated 8 m, taller culms over 10 m. Young shoots emerge from early or mid June, middle green, occasionally with light green streaks, glabrous, sheath blades dark, not reflexed at low height. Culm internodes terete, green, changing to orange-green or orange with age [all culms at the site exposed to sun], glabrous and smooth, diameter 3-4 cm. Culm nodes not prominent, glabrous. Culm sheaths deciduous, loosen from the sides, remain attached at the middle part of sheath base, then dropping; sheath with sheath blade long-triangle shaped, sheath blade erect (usually not reflexed), auricles none, sheath ligule present, dark straw-colored, slightly broader (about 2 mm on each side) than base of culm sheath blade, sheath ligule 1-2 mm long, with irregular coarse divisions or clefts; culm sheath with sheath blade pale to mid straw-colored when dry, the sheath blade some­what darker, culm sheath covered with short rigid hairs chiefly on its upper part, hairs soon deciduous, inner side of sheath shiny, inner side of sheath blade dull and darker. Branch complement with intra-vaginal branching; branches many, with one dominant branch. Foliage leaf blades mid-green to light green, dull and glabrous on both sides, small, usually 7-12 cm long, 7-9 mm wide.
Flowering: No flowers detected so far (late June 2009).

CM-008 — ไผ่บงใหญ่ (phai bong yai) — Dendro­calamus brandisii
Location: Planted 1986, in the garden of Phu Phing Ratchaniwet Palace (พระตำหนักภูพิงค์ราชนิเวศน์, winter residence of Their Majesties and the Royal Family) on the mountain Doi Suthep near Chiang Mai.
Dendrocalamus brandisii is one of the tallest bamboos.
Comments: Photos (taken 9 Jan. 2009) by courtesy of U.K. and R.S.
Further information: Fact Sheet from Bamboo Australia; BambooWeb.info.

CM-009 — ไผ่เลี้ยงหวาน (phai liang wan)
Location: Khun Noi's Plant Nursery, Saraphi, Chiang Mai.
Phai liang wan is a very ornamental as well as useful bamboo, similar to phai liang, but leaves are light green in the former as are the stems. Overall appearance resembles Thyrsostachys, but culm sheaths of lower culms are deciduous in both, phai liang wan and phai liang, and persistent in both known species of Thyrsostachys. All plants of phai liang wan at the Nursery are small and potted.
Flowering: A few of the plants were found in flower (early May 2009), but the inflorescence has not yet fully developed and no seeds were detected.

CM-010 — Unidentified bamboo 3, similar to CM-007
Location: Mae Hia subdistrict or Suthep subdistrict, Chiang Mai, bamboo alley to Land and Houses real estate compound.
This is a bamboo that closely resembles 1007. Planted as an about 200 m long bamboo alley (all plants of the same species). Only one single shoot had emerged by 10 June 2009, and more emerged from late June onwards.
Flowering: Only two clumps were found in flower in early May 2009, and three further clumps in flower in mid June 2009. Herbarium specimens were collected on 25 May 2009 and 29 June 2009. In late June, the first two flowering clumps no longer existed, and they were probably removed by the gardeners. Further, nearly all new shoots were cut, probably by the gardeners for their consumption, and only the very thin and too tall grown shoots were left.

CM-011 — ไผ่รวก (phai ruak) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
Location: On a slope in the middle of the village Ban Mae Aen, Mae Rim district. This species is found frequently in this hilly area: cultivated, naturalized, and possibly wild.

CM-012 — ไผ่ดำเลื้อย (phai dam lueai) — Dinochloa sp.
Location: On the property of Ping Buri, a guesthouse on Arak Road (along western moat) of the Old City of Chiang Mai.
This climbing bamboo with dark green stems was planted.
Comments: Many years ago, this bamboo was grown chiefly on all the pillars in front of the guesthouse, reaching over two-storey height. Later it was destroyed and replaced by other climbers. A single plant of this bamboo within the boundary gap to the neighboring property might have been overlooked and has survived so far.

CM-013 — Unidentified bamboo 4, similar to CM-007 and CM-010
Location: Plant Nursery near Payap University, Chiang Mai.
A row of bamboos planted for sale. They closely resemble CM-007 and CM-010, and most likely represent the same species. New shoots sprouted (which match the characters of 1007).
Flowering: None of the clumps were found in flower (early June 2009).

CM-014 — ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
Location: Along the border of Khamthiang Market, Chiang Mai.
Several hundred meters long is this row of phai liang, which was planted as a visual screen. Their light cinnamon-colored young shoots and dark foliage leaves clearly show that this is phai liang and not phai liang wan.
Flowering: None of the clumps were found in flower (late June 2009).

CM-015 — Unidentified bamboo 5, similar to CM-007 and CM-010
Location: In a village in Luang Nuea subdistrict of Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai.
This bamboo was planted as a visual screen behind a 200 m long wall along the border of a private property. All the plants seem to represent phai liang wan, not phai liang. The color of a few young shoots, seen near the entrance gate, were greenish, not light cinnamon-colored.
Flowering: Two big gaps with dieing culms were found in this screen; obviously these culms flowered (late June 2009).
Comments: Since mid 2009, more and more bamboos similar to phai liang or phai liang wan have been found in flower in the Chiang Mai area. Mass flowering has not been observed, only flowering of single stems or a few stems together, which aparently will die after flowering.
Further flowering of a few culms of this bamboo was seen on the following locations, but no photos were taken:
a) Bun Rueang Rit Road (between Suthep Rd. and Bun Rueang Rit Soi 2), trimmed bamboo hedge, cut down to about 1 m height.

CM-016 — ไผ่รวกดำ (phai ruak dam) — Thyrsostachys oliveri
Location: Planted in a garden of the village Ban Pa Fang, Pa Lan sub­district, Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai.
This bamboo seems to represent true Thyrsostachys oliveri. Culm sheaths are not persistent (only a few remnants can be seen on lower internodes), apex of culm sheath proper is almost straight-truncate (slightly convex-waived), and culm sheath ligule is entire [fringed in phai liang]. The overall appear­ance of this bamboo is between Thyrsostachys siamensis (phai ruak) and phai liang. The owners call this bamboo phai ruak dam.

CM-017 — ไผ่รวกบ้าน (phai ruak ban) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
Location: Planted in a garden of the village Ban Pa Fang, Pa Lan sub­district, Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai. Culm sheaths are persistent on lower culm, apex of culm sheath proper is convex-truncate, and culm sheath ligule is entire. The owners call this bamboo phai ruak ban.

CM-018 — ไผ่รวกป่า (phai ruak pa) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
Location: Planted in a garden of the village Ban Pa Fang, Pa Lan sub­district, Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai. Same as CM-017, but some­what smaller in size. The owners distinguish between phai ruak ban and this bamboo, and call it "ธรรมดา" (thammada = common, ordinary).

CM-019 — ไผ่เฮียะ (phai hia) — Schizo­stachyum virgatum, syn. Cephalo­stachyum virgatum
Location: Wild or planted on the side of a ditch in the village Ban Pa Fang, Pa Lan sub­district, Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai; also found planted in a garden in the same village.

CM-020 — Unidentified thorny bamboo — Bambusa sp.
Location: Wild or planted on the side of a ditch in the village Ban Pa Yang Poi, Pa Lan subdistrict, Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai. The species is frequently and widely found wild in wasteland and secondary forest in moist sites and along water courses. Culms are dark green, culm sheaths are glabrous, with inconspicuous or without auricles. A small propagule was taken (BS-0513-1) for later species determination.

CM-023 — ไผ่ซางหม่น (phai sang mon) — Dendrocalamus sp.
Location: Planted beside a ditch of a farmer's property in the village Ban Pa Sao, San Pu Loei subdistrict, Doi Saket district, Chiang Mai.
In Thai publications, this bamboo is often associated with the botanical name, Dendrocalamus sericeus, but this seems to be a misidentification at species level. In the Chiang Mai plain, this bamboo is rarely found, whereas quite frequently on the foothills, at least in Doi Saket district. It is more common in the Chiang Dao area. A one-culm division was received and planted (BS-0305).

CM-024 — ไผ่บงป่า (phai bong pa) — Bambusa sp.
Location: Roadside between Wat Mai Hua Fai and Wat Huai Thong, Nam Bo Luang subdistrict, San Pa Tong district, Chiang Mai.
Culms and culm sheaths are similar to a cultivated bamboo that is known as ไผ่บง (phai bong), but culms are rough and somewhat zig-zag, not straight as in phai bong. Culm sheaths are densely covered with stiff dark brown hairs, auricles are rounded, unequal and bristly, foliage leaves medium-sized, glabrous.

CM-025 — ไผ่ซางดอย (phai sang doi) — Dendrocalamus membranaceus
Location: Same as CM-024.
This bamboo is commonly and widely distributed in northern Thailand. The species flowered recently, and young plants, derived from seed, and seedlings can be found frequently. The species is a vigorous and tall grower. The location of CM-025, however, is not the very best for this species, therefore plants do not reach a tall height. The species can be easily recognized distantly by bending and arching culms and light green, small foliage leaves, and, from the near, by leaf sheaths with small auricles and long bristles, which may drop off early, and by young culms covered with pubescence.

CM-026 — Bambusa sp.
Location: Same as CM-024.
Culms, culm sheaths and leaves are similar to a cultivated bamboo, BS-0031. Plants of this population may represent Bambusa burmanica or a closely related species.

Bamboos at Khamthiang Market, Chiang Mai

Location



ตลาดคำเที่ยง (Khamthiang Market), the main plant market in Chiang Mai, is located little over 1 kilometer north-northeast beyond the old city wall.
Often found transcription variants of the components of the word Khamthiang are "kam", "tiang", "thieng", and "tieng".

Google Map: Northern City of Chiang Mai


Images

Photos taken from bamboos at Khamthiang Market are included in the following set:

Bamboos at Khamthiang Market, Chiang Mai

All images show plants at Khamthiang Market if not otherwise stated.


2008–2009 — List of bamboos

The following is a list of bamboos found offered for sale at vendors' stalls in Khamthiang Market, Chiang Mai. One can expect to detect further species and varieties of bamboo in course of time.
The list is arranged alphabetically by Romanized (transcribed) Thai bamboo name. First, the common Thai name is given in Thai script, followed in brackets by its Romanized name, then by its botanical name if known.
None of the vendors at Khamthiang Market can tell you a bamboo's botanical name, and you might even be mis­guided if you ask for a Thai name. Many seller assistants do not know the Thai name and call ไผ่หวาน (phai wan) any bamboo with edible shoots, and ไผ่ซาง (phai sang) any bamboo suit­able for construction, or they choose a fancy name. None of the vendors is specialized in bamboo, it's just another plant to sell. The only vendor that deals exclusively with bamboo and knows what they sell is Chiang Mai Bamboo Nursery which has no stall at Kham­thiang Market.


ไผ่บง (phai bong) — probably Bambusa tulda
Rarely offered by vendors. — Culms for construction.

ไผ่จีน (phai chin)
The Thai name, ไผ่จีน (phai chin), is in use for several totally different bamboos that originate, or were introduced from China.
Under this name, a green-stem variety of Bambusa multiplex was occasionally offered by one vendor in 2004. Just the same variety was offered at the same stall in June 2009 as ไผ่เสฉวน (phai sechuan). — Solitary ornamental, natural and trimmed hedges, screening; best species for trimmed hedges of low to medium size.
Species of Phyllo­stachys were occasionally found offered as phai chin, too.

ไผ่ดำ (phai dam) — Bambusa lako
A clump-forming bamboo; the culms black when mature, occasionally with a few narrow dark green stripes, lower nodes with air-roots.
Origins from Timor, cultivated in Malaysia and Thailand.
Found offered by a few vendors in Oct. 2008 and Oct. 2009. A rather tall clump of this species was found offered at 10,000 Baht in May 2009. — Solitary ornamental.
The Thai name, phai dam, meaning black bamboo, is applied to two or three different bamboos with black stem.

ไผ่ดำจีน (phai dam chin) — Phyllostachys nigra f. nigra
A bamboo forming an open-spaced grove; culms black when mature.
From Japan and China, widely cultivated in temperate climates, and sometimes in subtropical climates.
Was offered by a few vendors about 2005, and still found offered by one vendor in Nov. 2008.

ไผ่ดำจีน (phai dam chin) — Phyllostachys nigra f. boryana
Similar to Phyllostachys nigra f. nigra, but culms become irregularly marked with large purplish-black cloud-like blotches.
Origins from Japan and China, widely cultivated in temperate climates.
Found offered by one vendor in Oct. 2008.

ไผ่ดำแคระ (phai dam khrae) = ไผ่ดำเลื้อย (phai dam lueai) — Dinochloa sp.

ไผ่ดำเลื้อย (phai dam lueai) — Dinochloa sp.
A tall climbing bamboo, forming a dense clump. Culms dark green, or dark brown when old.
Was offered by one vendor about 2004, never found later again.

ไผ่ข้าหวลาม (phai khao lam) — Cephalostachyum pergracile
Not found offered by any vendor.

ไผ่กิมซุ่ง (phai kim sung) — Bambusa beecheyana
Offered by one vendor in Oct. 2008 and found again in June 2009. — Shoot production.

ไผ่ลายเงิน (phai lai ngoen) = ไผ่เงิน (phai ngoen)

ไผ่หลีจู (phai li chu) — Bambusa sp. [#031]
An unidentified species of Bambusa, with vegetative characters similar to Bambusa tulda. Found offered by one vendor in Oct. 2008 and again in June 2009. — Shoots delicious, plants as natural hedge and for screening.

ไผ่เหลี่ยม (phai liam) = ไผ่สี่เหลี่ยม (phai si liam) — Chimonobambusa quadrangularis

ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
A tight clump-forming bamboo, over 10 m tall, dark green erect culms, slightly bending, foliage leaves medium to dark green, small and narrow.
Phai liang is a still unidentified bamboo. In many publications, phai liang is considered to be Bambusa multiplex (some­times also synonymously named as Bambusa nana), which is a mis­identification (at least for plants of phai liang in the Chiang Mai area). It was also erroneously identified as Thyrsostachys oliveri.
Phai liang is frequently offered, almost through­out year. — Ornamental, good for screening.

ไผ่เลี้ยงหวาน (phai liang wan)
Similar to phai liang, but culms medium green to light green, foliage leaves light green, shoots said to be more delicious.
Found offered by two vendors in Oct. 2008, and again in 2009. — Shoots delicious, ornamental, good for screening.

ไผ่เหลือง (phai lueang) — Bambusa vulgaris cv. Striata
A tight clump-forming, tall bamboo, very common. Culms yellow with a few narrow green stripes; foliage leaf blades glabrous on both sides. As a very small pot plant, it can be confused with phai thong.
Seasonally offered by several vendors. — Solitary ornamental.

ไผ่เหลืองจีน (phai lueang chin) — Phyllostachys sp. [1]
A bamboo forming an open-spaced grove. Culms yellow.
Origins from China. This bamboo was first seen in 2007 and found again, offered by one vendor only, in Oct. 2008. The plant seems not to be P. aurea, and not P. sulphurea, both have yellow culms. There are other species of Phyllo­stachys grown in Chiang Mai from introductions, e.g. P. makinoi, but not seen offered at Khamthiang Market yet.

ไผ่หม่าจู (phai ma chu) — Dendrocalamus latiflorus [#170]
A tall clump-forming bamboo.
Found offered by two vendors in Oct. 2008, and again in 2009. — Shoot production, ornamental.

ไผ่น้ำ (phai nam) — not a bamboo!
= คล้าน้ำ (khla nam) — Schumannianthus dichotomus (MARANTACEAE)

ไผ่น้ำเต้า (phai nam tao) — Bambusa vulgaris cv. Wamin
A medium-sized, clump-forming bamboo with inflated/contorted internodes.
Seasonally and frequently offered. — Solitary ornamental.

ไผ่เงิน (phai ngoen) — Bambusa glaucophylla
A low, clump-forming bamboo. Culms up to 5 m height, usually lower, inter­nodes 1–2.5 cm in dia­meter. Foliage leaf blades small, 5–12 cm long, 10–15 mm wide, mid-green, variegated (with white stripes).
Seasonally and frequently offered. — Solitary ornamental, trimmed or natural low hedge.
Not to be confused with another species associated with the same Thai name (see below)!

ไผ่เงิน (phai ngoen) — not a bamboo!
= Pogonatherum sp. (POACEA: Pooideae: Andropogoneae)
Culms 70–95 cm long, leaves small, 6–7 cm long, 5–7 mm wide, variegated (with white stripes). This is a grass belonging to the tribe Andropogoneae, but not a bamboo! The white striped form is widely cultivated in the tropics as a garden plant, sometimes reverting to the green wild form. Its habit resembles a miniature bamboo. A green wild form of Pogonatherum occurs naturally at Doi Suthep – Doi Pui National Park in Chiang Mai Province.

ไผ่พื้นเมือง (phai phuen mueang)
An unidentified species native to Thailand, perhaps a species of Bambusa.
Offered by one vendor in Oct. 2008, not found later again.

ไผ่เป้าะ (phai po) — Dendrocalamus sp.
Found offered by one vendor only, but was sold out by Oct. 2008.
The local name phai po is applied to both D. brandisii and D. giganteus.

ไผ่แพร่ (phai phrae) = ไผ่เป้าะ (phai po)

ไผ่รวก (phai ruak) — Thyrsostachys siamensis
A common tight-clumping erect bamboo native to Thai­land and wide­spread. Found offered by a few vendors. Although different clones (with slightly different habit) exist, sellers do not distinguish different kinds of this species. — Shoots delicious, culms for construction.

ไผ่รวกแดง (phai ruak daeng) — Thyrsostachys siamensis = ไผ่รวก (phai ruak)
This is the same species (phai ruak), not a different species. It is not clear if phai ruak daeng is a selection of phai ruak.

ไผ่รวกดำ (phai ruak dam) = ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang)
Local people, including all the vendors contacted, actually apply both these names to the same species. Phai liang has not been identified so far; it could well be a species of Dendro­calamus though it is similar in overall habit to Thyrso­stachys; whereas phai ruak dam is commonly treated in publications as the Thai name for Thyrso­stachys oliveri. There are plants (similar to phai liang) that seem to be true Thyrso­stachys oliveri, but these were not found offered at Khamthiang Market.

ไผ่ซาง (phai sang) — Dendrocalamus strictus
It is doubtful if bamboos offered as phai sang are Dendro­calamus strictus through­out. Several distinct types of phai sang are recorded but not identified.
Bamboos under the name phai sang found offered by a few vendors at Khamthiang Market in 2009. — Culms for construction.

ไผ่ซางหม่น (phai sang mon)
An erect, tall clump-forming bamboo; the inter­nodes covered with white wax giving young culms a bluish appearance.
Found offered by one vendor in Oct. 2008. — Culms for construction and furniture.

ไผ่ซางราชินี (phai sang rachini) = ไผ่ซางหม่น (phai sang mon)

ไผ่เสฉวน (phai sechuan) — Bambusa multiplex cv. Stripestem Fernleaf
A variety of Bambusa multiplex with yellow-striped stem and tiny leaves. This variety is not stable; its leaves may revert to larger size. — Solitary ornamental.
For the first time in May 2009, found offered by one vendor at Kham­thiang Market, by another vendor with stall outside but near Kham­thiang Market, and also by a plant nursery in Suthep sub­district, all of them offered under the same Thai name. However, another variety of Bambusa multiplex (green stem, turning to orange-yellow in sun, and normal sized leaves) was found offered at Kham­thiang Market by one vendor as ไผ่เสฉวน (phai sechuan).
The Thai name, เสฉวน (sechuan), means hermit crab, alluding to the pattern of the foliage leaves.

ไผ่สี่เหลี่ยม (phai si liam) — Chimonobambusa quadrangularis — Square Bamboo
Offered temporarily by one vendor in mid 2009, and by a plant nursery in Suthep sub­district in May 2009. — Ornamental grove.
An invasive bamboo forming a grove, introduced from China. The stem in cross-section is nearly square, with rounded corners.
The Thai word เหลี่ยม (liam) means side, facet, and สี่เหลี่ยม (si liam) means four-sided, quadrangular.

ไผ่ศรีปราจีน (phai si prachin) = ไผ่ตงเขียว (phai tong khiao)
The Thai name translated means "bamboo from Prachin Buri [ปราจีนบุรี]", which is the name of a city and province in central Thailand.

ไผ่สรีสุก (phai si suk) — Bambusa blumeana
A giant thorny bamboo. Found offered by a few vendors. — Impenetrable barrier for people and life-stock, and wind-break, used for property boundaries.

ไผ่สีทอง (phai si thong) = ไผ่ทอง (phai thong)

ไผ่ทวาย (phai thawai) =? ไผ่เลี้ยงหวาน (phai liang wan)
Found offered by one vendor, who considers this bamboo to be the same as phai liang wan.

ไผ่ทอง (phai thong) — Schizostachyum brachycladum cv. Bali Kuning
This is a yellow-stem cultivated variety (yellow culms with an occasional green stripe) of Schizostachyum brachycladum, a species found in southern Thailand and Malaysia. The yellow-stem form may occasionally revert to the green wild form.
Other names recorded for Schizostachyum brachycladum: ไผ่โป (phai po) from Trang.
Seasonally and frequently offered. — Solitary ornamental, ideal also for group planting and avenue.

ไผ่ตง (phai tong) — Dendrocalamus asper
A tall and dense clump-forming bamboo with large foliage leaves.
Found seasonally offered by a few vendors, restricted to the following two varieties.

ไผ่ตงดำ (phai tong dam) — Dendrocalamus asper cv. Thai Black
New shoots black. Rarely offered. — Shoot production.

ไผ่ตงเขียว (phai tong khiao) — Dendrocalamus asper cv. Thai Green
New shoots green. More commonly offered. — Shoot production.

ไผ่หวาน (phai wan)
Under this name, several totally different species have been offered. All these species are bamboos with shoots of delicious taste: "wan" means sweet.


2009 — Flowering of bamboos

ไผ่ทอง (phai thong) — The yellow-stem variety of Schizostachyum brachycladum can be occasionally found flowering. It is sporadic flowering which might occur every year to this species and does not harm, or not seriously harm the plant (see photos 001–003 in the Album Bamboos at Khamthiang Market).
ไผ่เลี้ยงหวาน (phai liang wan)? — In May 2009, a few potted bamboos on the site of another plant sales booth next to Khamthiang Market were found in flower (see photos 004–009 in the Album Bamboos at Khamthiang Market). They closely resemble phai liang or phai liang wan. Apparently, all three bamboos represent the same species: Three potted plants, each pot with 3 single stems (individual stems, planted together in the pot), of which one stem of each pot developed branches with flowers and some weak leaves, the other stems showed branches with foliage leaves and remained in vegetative state. No culm sheaths were found. By the end of May, all three flowering stems did not show any vegetative growth, no further flowers developed, and they seem having died. Other plants of phai liang elsewhere in Chiang Mai were found flowering, and several if not most of them died or seem going to die. Some flowering plants, however, may recover and develop new leaves.