Bamboo Species of Mexico
8 genera, 35 species, 2 subspecies
Mexico is the second most diverse country in America in terms of woody bamboos. At present, 8 genera and 37 species are reported with one genus, Olmeca, and 14 species being endemic. The majority (47%) of its species belong to the genus Chusquea, and the remaining to Arthrostylidium, Aulonemia, Guadua, Olmeca, Otatea and Rhipidocladum.
In Mexico, some Guadua and Otatea species are used by local communities. There are several common names for the Chusquea species such as "Carrizo", "otatillo", "camalote" and "chajiche", and there are reports that the culms of these are used to make baskets.
Guadua has 5 species in Mexico: Guadua aculeata, Guadua amplexifolia, Guadua longifolia, Guadua paniculata and Guadua velutina, almost all of them are utilized for various purposes.
In recent years Guadua angustifolia has been cultivated in Chiapas and Tabasco. The initial material was brought from Quindio, Colombia, and more than 4,000 ha are cultivated in southern Mexico for commercial purposes. Other commercial plantations are being raised with Guadua amplexifolia.
The most common introduced Asiatic bamboos in Mexico are Bambusa vulgaris and Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata'. Probably, there are more Asiatic bamboos but they are not documented in herbarium collections.
Native Bamboo Species of Mexico
| Species | Diameter | Height |
|---|---|---|
| Arthrostylidium excelsum | ∅ 3 mm | ⇑ 5 m |
| Aulonemia clarkiae | ∅ 16 mm | ⇑ 8 m |
| Aulonemia fulgor | ∅ 10 mm | ⇑ 6 m |
| Aulonemia laxa | ∅ 4,5 mm | ⇑ 1,2 m |
| Chusquea aperta | ∅ 10 mm | ⇑ 2 m |
| Chusquea bilimekii | ∅ 30 mm | ⇑ 4 m |
| Chusquea circinata | ∅ 25 mm | ⇑ 7 m |
| Chusquea coronalis | ∅ 20 mm | ⇑ 10 m |
| Chusquea foliosa | ∅ 50 mm | ⇑ 20 m |
| Chusquea galeottiana | ∅ 15 mm | ⇑ 15 m |
| Chusquea glauca | ∅ 10 mm | ⇑ 6 m |
| Chusquea lanceolata | ∅ 20 mm | ⇑ 8 m |
| Chusquea liebmannii | ∅ 25 mm | ⇑ 10 m |
| Chusquea longifolia | ∅ 60 mm | ⇑ 15 m |
| Chusquea muelleri | ||
| Chusquea nelsonii | ||
| Chusquea repens ssp. oaxacacensis | ||
| Chusquea repens ssp. repens | ||
| Chusquea perotensis | ||
| Chusquea pittieri | ∅ 50 mm | ⇑ 20 m |
| Chusquea simpliciflora | ∅ 10 mm | ⇑ 25 m |
| Chusquea sulcata | ||
| Guadua amplexifolia | ∅ 100 mm | ⇑ 15 m |
| Guadua aculeata | ∅ 200 mm | ⇑ 30 m |
| Guadua longifolia | ∅ 50 mm | ⇑ 10 m |
| Guadua paniculata | ∅ 70 mm | ⇑ 10 m |
| Guadua velutina | ∅ 100 mm | ⇑ 15 m |
| Merostachys sp. | ||
| Olmeca recta | ∅ 50 mm | ⇑ 15 m |
| Olmeca reflexa | ∅ 20 mm | ⇑ 12 m |
| Otatea acuminata ssp. acuminata | ||
| Otatea acuminata ssp. aztecorum | ||
| Otatea fimbriata | ||
| Rhipidocladum bartlettii | ∅ 8 mm | ⇑ 10 m |
| Rhipidocladum martinezii | ∅ 16 mm | |
| Rhipidocladum pittieri | ∅ 10 mm | ⇑ 10 m |
| Rhipidocladum racemiflorum | ∅ 10 mm | ⇑ 15 m |
Source: INBAR
