''Oxytenanthera'' is a genus of

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, ...

. Bamboos are members of the grass family Poaceae. The only recognized species in this genus is ''Oxytenanthera abyssinica''. This species is found widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa. In tropical Africa it is found outside of the humid forest zone from

Senegal Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...

to Ethiopia.In Eastern Africa it is found to occur from Ethiopia all the way down to northern South Africa. The genus formerly contained several

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an are ...

tic species, but these are now generally considered to be better suited to other genera (primarily ''

Dendrocalamus ''Dendrocalamus'' is a tropical Asian genus of giant clumping bamboos in the grass family. It is found in the Indian subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. '' Dendrocalamus giganteus'' is one of the tallest of bamboos, capable of reaching heig ...

'' or ''

Gigantochloa ''Gigantochloa'' is a tropical Asian and Papuasian genus of giant clumping bamboos in the grass family. It is found in southern China, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and New Guinea. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Bambusa Dendrocal ...

'' but see also ''

Bambusa ''Bambusa'' is a large genus of clumping bamboos. Most species of ''Bambusa'' are rather large, with numerous branches emerging from the nodes, and one or two much larger than the rest. The branches can be as long as 11 m (35 ft). The ...

Cephalostachyum ''Cephalostachyum'' is a genus of Asian and Madagascan bamboo in the grass family. The plants are of small to medium size compared to most other bamboo. Their choice habitats are mountain to lowland forests. ;Species ;formerly included see ...

Pseudoxytenanthera Schizostachyum Yushania''); However, molecular studies show species of ''Oxytenanthera'' quite distinct from ''

'' spp. ''Oxytenanthera'' is the most common lowland bamboo in eastern and central Africa, resulting in its common name of African lowland bamboo. It is also referred to as savannah bamboo or Bindura bamboo. ''Oxytenanthera abyssinica'' is a drought-resistant species of bamboo that grows in savanna woodland, semi-arid wooded grassland and thicket. It mass-flowers (gregarious flowering) after long periods of vegetative growth of more than 70 years before occasionally sets seed. The seed of ''Oxytenanthera abyssinic'' is considered rare. After setting seed the parent plant dies back, sometimes synchronously across large areas. The last known seeding period occurred in 2006 in West Africa and 2010 in Ethiopia.

Uses

Traditional uses of ''Oxytenanthera abyssinica'' include weaving for basketry, as a building material for local construction, houses and furniture, and in the Southern Highlands of

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

in Iringa,

Mbeya Mbeya is a city located in south west Tanzania, Africa. Mbeya's urban population is 620,000 according to the 2022 census. Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region (population, with Mbeya, totals approx. 2 million). Mbeya is sit ...

and Ruvuma Regions it is tapped for its juice, and fermented for the production of a local alcoholic beverage. However more recently the species has come under commercial production by EcoPlanet Bamboo. Using seed from the most recent flowering event this entity has used ''Oxytenanthera'' abyssinica for the regeneration of degraded agricultural lands in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Through EcoPlanet Bamboo’s extensive R&D around this species and trials carried out to showcase its ability to restore degraded landscapes Oxytenanthera abyssinica has recently been touted by international institutions including the

World Resources Institute The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research non-profit organization established in 1982 with funding from the MacArthur Foundation under the leadership of James Gustave Speth. WRI's activities are focused on seven areas: food, for ...

as having a high potential for industrial production. Kenyan entity Kitil Farm ''http://www.kitilfarm.com/''
/ref> has developed a resource base of ''Oxytenanthera'' abyssinica seedlings in Isinya.

References

External links

Bamboos of India

* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081025045855/http://www.inbar.int/documents/country%20report/Tanzania.htm Mhando Leonardo (n.d.) The state of bamboo and rattan development in Tanzania. Tanzania Forest Research Institute-TAFORI.]
Pattanaik, S. and Hall, J.B. 2009. Species relationships in ''Dendrocalamus'' inferred from AFLP fingerprints. VIII World Bamboo Congress Proceedings, Vol. 5 Biology and Taxonomy; pp. 5–27 – 5–40.

Ingram et al. 2010. The bamboo production to consumption system in Cameroon. INBAR and CIFOR.
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q2716365, from2=Q641048 Bambusoideae genera Flora of Africa Bambusoideae Monotypic Poaceae genera