Neololeba atra

The Black Bamboo, (Neololeba atra) is a bamboo species of tropical Asian, Australian, and Papuasian genus of bamboo in the grass family.^[1][2][3][4]

Habit

Black bamboo is a short, small culmed, green bamboo species with a 5-7m of height. They forms impenetrable thickets with densely clustered clumps with a large number of closely growing culms. It is native to Philippines, Sulawesi, Maluku, New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, and Queensland. It is an exotic species in Indian subcontinent countries, such as India and Sri Lanka.

Appearance

Culms are dark green when young, and becoming yellowish green when mature. It becomes brownish green when drying. Young shoots are also green in color. Internode length is 60-80cm and diameter is about 2.5 to 5cm. Culm walls are very thin. Nodes are not prominent. Branching occurs only at the top and no aerial roots can be seen.

Culm sheath is green in young plants, becoming straw colored when mature. Culm sheath blades are flame-shaped. Length of the sheath proper s 9-12cm and about 6-9cm wide. Auricles are equal, small and wavy, continuous with the blade, which is situated on top of the sheath. Upper surface of the culm sheath is covered with light brown hairs. Under surface is not hairy. Sheaths fall off early.

Uses

In Indonesia, strips of the black bamboo are used to make window blinds and the leaves are used for thatching.

References

• Keys.org
• The Plant List