Dendrocalamus merillianus
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Bayog (lbn., Ilk., Sbl., Tag.); bayugin, bukaui (Tag.); botong (Bis.,Bikol); butong (P. Bis.); Kauayan (C. Bis. Ilk., Tag.); kauayan- bayog (Pang.).
Dendrocalamus merillianus
Clumping, culms erect and sturdy, more or less 20 m tall. Nodes solitary, nodal line and nodal ridge present, beset with aerial roots especially at lower nodes. Internodes green, smooth, the lower ones up to 30 cm long, 8-12 cm diameter, moderately hollow, walls up to 4.0 cm thick, sometimes almost solid at the base. Culm sheaths trapezoidal, 20 cm long x base 25 cm wide, narrowed upward to truncate, 10 cm wide top, outer surface strongly ribbed, shortly pubescent with brown to black hairs, inner surface weakly ribbed, shiny, glabrous; auricles 2 mm high, margins fringed with brown bristles; ligules 4 mm high, margin weakly lacerate, fringed with brown hairs; blades 4.5 cm long, base 2 cm wide narrowed upward to acute tip, outer and inner surfaces puberulent, margin in folded. Branches usually 1 at each node, sturdy, developing extravaginally, up to 2.0 m long. Leaves as many as 12 to a branchlet, blades linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 13-26 cm long x 1.5 to 3.3 cm wide, glabrous or near the sparsely puberulent, base obtuse to rounded margins weakly scabrous, tip acuminate; petiole short, glabrous; sheaths longer than the internodes, glabrous; auricles not distinct; ligule 1 mm, glabrous.
Generally planted in settled areas. Prefers deep fertile soil.
Culms used in building construction and preferred for furniture making vehicle shafts, arched yoke fitted to the neck of carabao. Green culms split and made into ropes. Also suitable for pulp and papermaking. Material for BMI
Science in a creative industry.
The DOST-FPRDI has a Bamboo Musical Instruments Innovation R&D program aimed at improving the quality of locally-made bamboo musical instruments (BMIs) through science and innovative technologies. The program seeks to standardize the production of selected BMIs, develop prototype designs, analyze raw material sources and existing markets, and build a BMI processing facility. In addition, the program aims to document the ethnocultural story behind several BMIs and identify the bamboo species used in BMI production to promote public awareness and appreciation of the cultural importance of these musical instruments. The program is a collaboration with the University of the Philippines and Philippine Normal University for teaching modules and analyzing sound quality and standardization of BMI design. The DOST Grants-in-Aid program provides funding.
PhBMI