Family: Poaceae

Origin, Description & Uses:
Dendrocalamus brandisii, commonly known as velvetleaf bamboo or sweet dragon bamboo, is a large tropical clumping bamboo native to South and Southeast Asia, including parts of China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. It produces tall, upright culms that can reach impressive heights, forming dense clumps with thick-walled stems and broad leaves that are softly hairy when young. This species thrives in warm, humid climates and performs best in moist, well-drained soils. Velvetleaf bamboo is widely cultivated for its strong, durable canes, which are used in construction, scaffolding, furniture making, handicrafts, and paper production. The young shoots are also edible, and the plant is sometimes grown as an ornamental feature in large landscapes.

Risks & Threats:
Although Dendrocalamus brandisii is not currently known to be naturalized in Hawaii, it does possess traits that are cause for concern. It is fast-growing, tolerant of a range of environmental conditions, and capable of forming large, dense clumps that could crowd out other vegetation if left unmanaged. Like many large bamboos, it can be difficult to remove once established due to its robust root system and ability to resprout after cutting. At this time, documented impacts are limited, and further evaluation is needed to determine whether this species could spread beyond cultivation and negatively impact Hawaii’s native ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Broad elevational distribution within native range (500 - 1800 m)
  
• Possibly naturalized in the Philippines (unconfirmed)
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates many different soil types
  
• Seeds dispersed by gravity, people and probably wind
  
• Possibly prolific seed production when maturity is reached
  
• Will resprout after repeated cutting or harvesting of shoots and culms (may be difficult to remove from unwanted areas)
  
• Missing ecological information makes accurate risk prediction difficult

Low Risk Traits:

• No negative impacts have been documented
  
• Non-toxic
  
• Edible shoots
  
• Landscaping and ornamental value
  
• A sympodial, or clumping bamboo
  
• Long time to reproductive maturity
  
• Lack of seed production until possibly at the end of long life cycle