Racemobambos Holttum
Gramineae
Major species and synonyms
-Racemobambos congesta (Pilger) Holttum. Synonym: Arundinaria congesta Pilger.
-Racemobambos gibbsiae (Stapf) Holttum. Synonym: Bambusa gibbsiae Stapf.
-Racemobambos raynalii Holttum.
Vernacular names
-R. congesta: Papua New Guinea: dim (Weng, Busilmin), twengom (Wapi, Miwaute), mal (Mendi).
Distribution
The genus Racemobambos (16 species) is confined to Malesia up to the Solomon Islands, with great diversity in New Guinea (about 6 species), but so far has not been found in Sumatra, Java, and the Lesser Sunda Islands. For map click: Map316.TIF. R. congesta is found in Papua New Guinea and Goodenough Island. For map click: Map298.TIF; R. gibbsiae is endemic on Mount Kinabalu, Sabah (Malaysia). For map click: Map01.TIF; R. raynalii is found in Irian Jaya (Indonesia). For map click: Map298.TIF.
Uses
In New Guinea culms are used for bow strings, straps for fire making, and arrow heads. All Racemobambos species have potential ornamental value.
Observations
Scrambling bamboos. Culms slender, lower part erect, upper part leaning or scrambling over nearby vegetation, up to 20 m long, diameter 8-9 mm, walls thin; internodes 25 cm long. Branches several to many at each node, with the primary branch dominant. Inflorescence semelauctant, a panicle or raceme, terminating a leafy branch; spikelet consisting of 2-3 glumes, 3-8 perfect florets, and one terminal rudimentary floret. Found in mountain or mossy forest, except for R. hirsuta Holttum which grows in the lowlands of Sabah (Malaysia) and Palawan (the Philippines). R. congesta and R. gibbsiae form dense thickets in montane forest.