MELOCANNA B AMBUS IDES, MULI BAMBOO. 
"The culms reach a height of 50 to 70 feet, with a circum- 
ference of 12 to 13 inches at the base. It has "been stated 
that M. bambusoides dies immediately after fruiting, hut Dr. 
Anderson, Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens at Calcutta, 
states that in no case of which he was aware during the flower- 
ing period of 1857-58 did a general death of the bamboo follow. 
The foliage almost entirely disappeared during the flowering, 
and the flowering shoots died, but they were replaced by young 
shoots. The fruit is very curious in form and size as compared 
with other bamboos. The true seed inside the pericarp, about 
the size and shape of a betel nut (small pear), is very pleas- 
ant eating and not at all austere, though without much flavor. 
The natives declare the whole fruit is edible after baking." 
(Theobald. From Colonel Munro's monograph of the Bambusaceae . J 
