Melocanna baccifera
mautak
- height
- 10–25 m
- culm ⌀
- 2.5–7 cm
ninety-eight percent of mizoram's bamboo is mautak. flowers once every 48–50 years — the current thingtam cycle began in 2024–25.
- construction
- edible shoots
- weaving
- paper pulp
research · species reference
eighteen of thirty, with notes.
the catalogue is a working document. twelve species still to be added; entries will be expanded as specimens are measured and photographed.
Bambusa tulda
rawthing
- height
- 6–23 m
- culm ⌀
- 5–10 cm
strong, straight, and durable. the workhorse of mizo timber-scale construction.
- housing
- scaffolding
- furniture
Dendrocalamus longispathus
rawnal
- height
- 12–24 m
- culm ⌀
- 8–15 cm
the species carried water before pipes did. large-diameter culms with naturally long internodes.
- construction
- water pipes
- crafts
Dendrocalamus hamiltonii
phulrua
- height
- 15–24 m
- culm ⌀
- 12–18 cm
premium edible shoots. culm sizes rival timber.
- edible shoots
- construction
- poles
Bambusa pallida
rawlak
- height
- 6–15 m
- culm ⌀
- 3–6 cm
flexible culms, thin wall — the weaving species.
- basketry
- mats
- fencing
Schizostachyum dullooa
rawthla
- height
- 8–15 m
- culm ⌀
- 2–4 cm
thin-walled, highly flexible. the flute-maker's bamboo.
- fine weaving
- handicrafts
- musical instruments
Bambusa nutans
rawthing chi
- height
- 8–15 m
- culm ⌀
- 5–8 cm
the versatile cousin. edible shoots plus usable culms.
- construction
- edible shoots
- poles
Dendrocalamus strictus
rawmi
- height
- 8–16 m
- culm ⌀
- 2.5–8 cm
nearly solid culms. drought-tolerant. the strongest section-for-section.
- furniture
- tool handles
- solid stock
Chimonobambusa callosa
thing-thupui
- height
- 5–10 m
- culm ⌀
- 2–4 cm
higher-altitude species. culms tend toward a squared cross-section.
- walking sticks
- edible shoots
- crafts
Dendrocalamus giganteus
rawpui
- height
- 25–30 m
- culm ⌀
- 18–25 cm
the largest bamboo in the world. single culms span architectural distances.
- heavy construction
- boards
- bridges
Cephalostachyum latifolium
rulam
- height
- 10–18 m
- culm ⌀
- 5–8 cm
long internodes. the cladding bamboo.
- roofing
- walls
- mats
Bambusa vulgaris
rawleng
- height
- 10–20 m
- culm ⌀
- 4–10 cm
the world's most-cultivated bamboo. yellow and striped cultivars common.
- paper pulp
- furniture
- ornamental
Oxytenanthera nigrociliata
sairil
- height
- 6–12 m
- culm ⌀
- 3–5 cm
solid or nearly solid culms. the fence-line bamboo.
- fencing
- light construction
- wattle
Pseudostachyum polymorphum
chal
- height
- 8–15 m
- culm ⌀
- 2–4 cm
thin walls, fine grain. prized for delicate work.
- edible shoots
- fine weaving
- flutes
Bambusa balcooa
rawtling
- height
- 16–23 m
- culm ⌀
- 8–15 cm
thick-walled, heavy, strong. the scaffolding workhorse of south asia.
- construction
- scaffolding
- furniture
Bambusa bambos
rawhing
- height
- 15–30 m
- culm ⌀
- 10–18 cm
giant thorny bamboo. the hedge species, weaponised by its own branches.
- handicrafts
- agarbatti sticks
- construction
Bambusa mizorameana
talan
- height
- 8–15 m
- culm ⌀
- 4–8 cm
endemic to mizoram. rare, small population, fine weaving stock.
- weaving
- handicrafts
Bambusa dampaena
dampa bamboo
- height
- 10–18 m
- culm ⌀
- 5–10 cm
named after dampa tiger reserve. versatile across food and craft.
- handicrafts
- edible shoots
- agarbatti