Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, or Hamilton's bamboo, is a species of bamboo, 12âÂÂ15 cm in diameter and growing up to 15âÂÂ18 m in height, found in South Asian countries such as, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and far eastern China.
It is a tall, dull green-colored bamboo species with drooping tops, which grows in thickets consisting of a few closely growing culms.
Culms are dull green covered with whitish-brown hairs, which become dull brownish-green when dry. Whitish bands occur below and above the nodes. Culms are noticeably zig-zag. Branching occurs from the base to top. Aerial roots are present in all nodes. Internode length is 30âÂÂ40 cm, and diameter is 5âÂÂ15 cm. Culm walls are 0.5âÂÂ1.5 cm thick. Nodes of some culms are bent.
Culm sheaths are green when young and turn yellowish brown when mature, and are long and gradually tapering upwards from a flattened base. The sheath proper is 18âÂÂ45 cm in length and 15âÂÂ28 cm wide. Blade length is 8âÂÂ20 cm. Auricles are absent. Upper surfaces of the sheaths are covered with patches of blackish-brown hairs. Lower surfaces of the sheaths are not hairy. Sheaths fall off early.