Monastery Bamboo (Thyrsostachys siamensis)

Family: Poaceae | Edibility: Choice Edible (4/5)

Monastery Bamboo or also known as Thai Bamboo, Thyrsostachys siamensis, is native to Yunnan, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is a perennial, evergreen, clumping bamboo that grows about 7 - 13 m in height and 60 mm in culm diameter. The culms are erect, bright green when young and turns yellowish brown upon maturity, with thick wall and prominent nodes. It is cylindrical with a triangular blade. T.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Shoots

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Young shoots - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They are considered to be among the best of bamboo shoots. — Young shoots - cooked and eaten as a vegetable.; They are considered to be among the best of bamboo shoots.

Habitat & North American Range

River valleys to hilly forested areas; at elevations from 500 - 1,000 metres in southern China. Dry or semi-evergreen forest on poor soils. (Zone 9)