A case of gregarious flowering in bamboo, dominated lowland forest of Assam, India: phenology, regeneration, impact on rural economy, and conservation

Abstract

We recorded gregarious flowering of three bamboo species viz. Bambusa arundinacea, Bambusa tulda and Melocanna baccifera during rainy season from early March to late May, 2008 at lowland forest of Bajali area of Indo-Burma hotspot region. A regular method of field sampling of various forest types was used to map the bamboo species in Assam, India. Moreover, people’s perception on bamboo blooming was investigated at 17 sample plots covering 258 respondents inhabiting at the site at an average of 15 in each plots. A floral clump (inflorescence) emerged and developed into a giant panicle comprising of numerous florets. Two types of seeds viz. bacca and caryopsis were recorded in different species. Viviparous germination was noticed in few bacca seeds produced by M. baccifera and this has unusual occurrence in bamboo. Seed viability test shows that 75% caryopsis seeds were viable; these seeds had the potential of germination and can be used for mass regeneration. Most local respondents believe that bamboo flowering can result in population explosion of rodent, therefore, they think bamboo flowering is positively correlated with famine. This traditional belief results in massive destruction of bamboo clumps, which significantly impacts on rural economy.

Keywords

bamboo / famine / flowering / Indo-Burma hotspot / rural economy / viviparous germination

References

[1] Bhatt B.P., Singha L.B., Singh K., Sachan M.S.. Some commercial edible bamboo species of North East India: Production, indigenous uses, costbenefit and management strategies. The Journal of the American Bamboo Society, 2003, 17: 4-20.

[2] Champion H.G., Seth S.K.. A Revised Survey of Forest Types of India. 1968, New Delhi: Government of India Publication

[3] Chowdhury S.. Assam’s Flora (Present Status of Vascular Plants). 2005, Assam: Science Technology and Environment Council

[4] Cota-Sánchez J.H.. Vivipary in the Cactaceae: Its taxonomic occurrence and biological significance. Flora — Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants, 2004, 199: 481-490.

[5] Deogun P.N.. The silviculture and management of the bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus). Indian Forest Research, 1936, 2: 75-173.

[6] Farnsworth E.. The ecology and physiology of viviparous and recalcitrant seeds. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 2000, 31: 107-138.

[7] Hore D.K.. Genetic resources among bamboos of north eastern India. Journal of Economic Taxonomic Botany, 1998, 22: 173-181.

[8] John C.K., Nadgauda R.S.. Bamboo flowering and famine. Current Science, 2002, 82: 261-262.

[9] Koshy K.C., Harikumar D.. Does Ochlandra scriptoria flower annually or once in a lifetime?. Current Science, 2000, 79: 1650-1652.

[10] Kishwan J., Goyal A.K.. Gregarious flowering in bamboo in northeast India. Need for intensive management. Indian Forester, 2006, 132: 525-533.

[11] Marden L., Brandenburg J.. Bamboo-the giant grass. National Geographic, 1980, 158: 503-528.

[12] McClure F.A.. Bamboos-A Fresh Perspective. 1966, Cambridge, MA: Haward University Press

[13] Myer N., Muttermeier R.A., Muttermeier C.A., da Fornseca G.A.B., Kent J.. Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 2000, 403: 853-858.

[14] Nath A. J., Das A.K.. Bamboo resources in the home gardens of Assam: A case study from Barak valley. Journal of Tropical Agriculture, 2008, 46: 58-61.

[15] Naithani H.B.. Diversity of Indian bamboos with special reference to northeast India. Indian Forester, 2008, 134: 765-788.

[16] Pathak P.S.. Bamboo resources in the world. Proceeding on Silviculture and Management of Bamboo. 1989, Jabalpur, India: Institute of deciduous forests, 78 87

[17] Prasad R. 1990. Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus) resources of the outer Himalayas and Siwaliks of Western Uttar Pradesh: A conservation plea for habitat restoration. In: I.V. Ramanuja Rao; R. Gnanaharan and C.B. Sastry, (eds), Bamboos Current Research. Proceedings of the International Bamboo workshop, Cochin, India. pp 34–38.

[18] Quattrocchi U.. CRC World Dictionary of Grasses: Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology. 2006, London: CRC Press

[19] Sarkar J., Sundriyal R.C.. Indigenous uses, management and conservation of bamboo resource in Arunachal Pradesh, North East India. Bamboo Journal, 2002, 19: 24-39.

[20] Sarma H., Sarma C.M.. Alien traditionally used plants species of Manas Biosphere Reserve, Indo-Burma hotspot. Zeitschrift Fur Arznei and Gewurzpflanzen, 2008, 13: 117-120.

[21] Seethalakshmi KK, Muktesh Kumar MS, Sankara P.K, Sarojam N. 1998. Bamboos of India: a compendium. Bamboo Information Centre-India: International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, BRILL. 342 pp

[22] Sharma B.D., Hore D.K., Pandey G., Wadhwa B.M.. Genetic resources of bamboos in the northeastern region of India. Indian Journal of Forestry, 1992, 15: 44-51.

[23] Sharma YML. 1980. Bamboos in Asia-pacific region. In: G. Lessard and A. Chouniard (eds), Proceedings on Bamboo Research in Asia. Singapore. pp. 99–120

[24] Singh KA. 2002. Boon of bamboo resources in north-east India. In: K. A. Singh (ed), Resource Management Perspective of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh Centre: ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region. pp 69–112

[25] Singh M.P.. Plant Biodiversity and Taxonomy. 2002, India: Daya Books

[26] Singh S.K., Dhiman K.R., Datta M.. Verma N. D., Bhatt B. P.. Agroforestry research and practices: An overview. 2001, Umiam, Meghalaya: ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, 365 392

[27] Soderstrom T., Calderon C.E.. A commentary on the bamboos (Poaceae: Bambusoideae). Biotropica, 1979, 11: 161-172.

[28] Tewari D.N.. A Monograph on Bamboo. 1992, Dehradun, India: International Book Distributors