Ochlandra travancorica Benth. ex Gamble (GRAMINEAE)
Common names
Kannada: Vaate bidiru.
Malayalam: Etta, Kar-etta, Vai.
Tamil: Eral, Era-katti, Nanal, Odai.
Description: This bamboo has a shrubby, reed-like appearance. The culms are erect, reaching heights of up to 6 m and diameters of 5 cm, with hollow internodes. Culm sheaths are truncately rounded, measuring up to 20 cm in length, with a mouth adorned with stiff bristles, and a subulate blade. Leaves broadly oblong-lanceolate, up to 30 x 12 cm, often obliquely rounded at base, long setaceous at apex; sheath ending in a smooth callus and short, falcate auricles. Inflorescence a subverticillate, spicate panicle with a few large fertile spikelets and a few much smaller sterile spikelets. Spikelets ovate or oblong-ovate, up to 4 x 1 cm. Glumes up to 5 cm long, mucronate. Stamens up to 120, monadelphous. Stigmas 5-6, plumose. Fruit a caryopsis, oval-oblong, ca 7.5 cm, brown.
Flowering : Flowering cycle of the species is reported to be 7 years. The plant dies down after flowering.
Distribution: India: Gregarious in the lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of Western Ghats often along the sides of rivers and streams. Endemic.
Uses: An ideal material for paper pulp.It is great demand locally for mat and basket making, umbrella handles and walking-sticks. It is also used for temporary huts and thatching. The leaves are eaten by elephants and can be fed to horses if grass is scarce.
