Himalayacalamus hookerianus
Padang
a woody evergreen member of the Himalayacalamus genus in the family Gramineae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Gramineae
- Genus
- Himalayacalamus
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- vigorous
- Height
- 9 m
- Fertility
- Wind
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - cooked whole or ground into a powder and used as a cereal[4]. Plants flower at intervals of about 50 years, they flower and produce fertile seed abundantly in British gardens[4].
- Plant part
- Seed
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The older stems are harvested for weaving into baskets and mats[4]. The canes can be up to 3cm in diameter and, with the long gaps between nodes, produce a high-quality weaving material[5][7]. A very effective plant for stabilising soil on steep slopes[6].
- Product or use
- Basketry
- Product or use
- Weaving
Ecology and functions
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Himalayas from E. Nepal to Sikkim and Bhutan.
- Habitat
- Cool broad-leaved forests, 2000 - 2500 metres[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - surface sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 20°c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. There is a degree of dormancy in the seed and it can take 1 - 8 months to germinate at 20 - 25°c, a cold pre-treatment might shorten this time[4]. Grow on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Seed is rarely available. Division in spring as new growth commences. Take divisions with at least three canes in the clump, trying to cause as little root disturbance to the main plant as possible. Grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse in pots of a high fertility sandy medium. Mist the foliage regularly until plants are established. Plant them out into their permanent positions when a good root system has developed, which can take a year or more[3]. Basal cane cuttings.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a good loamy soil[4]. Succeeds in most soils so long as they do not dry out[3]. Dislikes drought[1]. Prefers a position sheltered from cold north and east winds[1]. The stems colour more brightly when grown in a sunny position[3], though the leaves curl up in bright sunlight[4]. Succeeds outdoors in a woodland garden in the milder parts of Britain[4]. Plants are intolerant of winter wet and of temperatures below about -6°c[3]. Plants are flowering freely (1993) in Kew and Edinburgh where they are producing abundant fertile seed[4]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[3]. There has been much confusion over this species and many plants cultivated under this name have proved to be different species[4]. Plants only flower at intervals of many years. When they do come into flower most of the plants energies are directed into producing seed and consequently the plant is severely weakened. They sometimes die after flowering, but if left alone they will usually recover though they will look very poorly for a few years. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[2].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
? The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980. Royal Horticultural Society 1979-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186
Stapleton. C. Bamboos of Nepal The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1994-00-00 ISBN 0947643680
Stapleton. C. Bamboos of Bhutan Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-947643-67-2
Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6