Native to northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal, Melocanna baccifera is an exotic bamboo species you won’t find at your local nursery. In tropical, Asian climates, this bamboo is widely admired as an attractive ornamental and a highly effective means of erosion control. The flowering of this species produces a pear-shaped fruit and has also caused some serious disruptions in northern India. Locals sometimes refer to it as Muli Bamboo or Berry Bamboo.
This article is part of an ongoing series about various bamboo species. To learn more, be sure to check out our Complete Guide to Growing Bamboo and our comprehensive Directory of Bamboo Species. You might also find these other tropical species interesting:
- Bambusa lako: Timor Black Bamboo
- Schizostachyum brachycladum: Sacred Bali Bamboo
- Thyrsostachys siamensis: Monastery Bamboo
NOTE: This article first appeared in March 2022, most recently updated in May 2026.
Quick Facts about Melocanna baccifera
- Scientific name: Melocanna baccifera
- Common names: Muli Bamboo, Pear Bamboo, Berry Bamboo
- Type: Tropical clumping bamboo
- Native range: Northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal
- Climate: Tropical and subtropical monsoon climates
- USDA zones: Approximately 10–12
- Cold tolerance: Minimal frost tolerance
- Mature height: 40–50 feet (12–15 m)
- Culm diameter: 2–3 inches (5–8 cm)
- Growth habit: Loose clumping bamboo with elongated rhizomes
- Culm characteristics: Tall, straight culms with thin walls
- Internodes: Exceptionally long, often 10–20 inches
- Best ornamental features: Draping leaves and persistent striped culm sheaths
- Primary uses: Erosion control, weaving, baskets, mats, ecological restoration
- Construction value: Limited due to thin culm walls
- Edible parts: Fruit edible; shoots consumed in some regions after preparation
- Special ecological trait: Outstanding soil stabilization and erosion control
- Flowering cycle: Gregarious flowering approximately every 48-50 years
Characteristics of Melocanna baccifera
Melocanna is a genus of tropical, clumping bamboo containing only two species, M. baccifera being the far more common of the two. Plants of this species grow in loose clumps with the culms somewhat spread out. Culms are tall, upright, and very straight, commonly reaching 40 or 50 feet in height and 2-3 inches in diameter.
The size and stature of the poles make for an attractive specimen, but the culm walls are quite thin and therefore not very useful as a building material. Melocanna baccifera is better for light crafts and weaving, for example, floor mats and baskets.
Large, draping leaves give this bamboo an interesting appearance, as do the culm sheaths that remain for a long time and create a striped effect (see image above). At 10-20 inches, the internodes are unusually long. Nodal joints bulge out with some prominence.
In addition to its pleasing appearance, Melocanna baccifera has an especially robust rhizome network, making it one of the best bamboo species for erosion control.
The flowering event of this Indian bamboo variety is also noteworthy. Most members of this species tend to flower simultaneously and produce a large and unusual fruit. Melocanna baccifera is sometimes called Pear Bamboo, because of this large fruit.
Fresh shoots of this species are valued for their culinary value. The fruits are edible as well, and baking them will improve their otherwise sour flavor.
Exceptional erosion control with Melocanna baccifera
Melocanna baccifera is one of the most effective bamboo species for erosion control. Although it’s a clumping bamboo, the root systems are vigorous and tenacious. It also grows well in wetter soil, close to waterways where erosion is a common threat. Although running bamboo is often associated with superior soil binding and erosion prevention, the elongated rhizomes on this loose clumper make it a superior species, especially in tropical climes.
Given the increasing occurrence of extreme weather events, Melocanna baccifera is an excellent choice in areas like Bangladesh, where flooding is already very common. Few things can prevent landslides as well as a vigorous, well-established grove of bamboo.
Flowering events with Melocanna baccifera
This exotic bamboo species is perhaps most famous for the gregarious (or synchronous) flowering event that happens roughly every 48-50 years. As often happens with bamboo, every specimen of Melocanna baccifera will flower at the same time, after which the plants die. But this species is remarkable for the large and plentiful fruit that it produces when flowering.
The fruit of Pear Bamboo is edible, but most of it remains on the bamboo where it over-ripens and falls to the ground. As it gathers on the forest floor, this bountiful food supply attracts large populations of rats. The rats enjoy a short-lived feast, but when the bamboo fruit runs out, the rats raid the local crops and warehouses. This has often led to incidents of famine among the local human population.
This unfortunate event is known as Mautam, which literally means “Rat Flood”. Although the flowering cycle is quite constant and predictable, happening every 48-50 years, the long interval makes it easy for people to lose track. The last time it happened was in 2006, and the Indian military was on the scene to prevent an all-out catastrophe.
The shoots of this bamboo species are also edible. In the northeastern state of Tripura, they are revered as having the greatest nutritional value. Locals sometimes grind the shoots into flour in order to make delicacies like bamboo cookies.
Browse the bamboo
If you like geeking out on botanical minutiae and enjoyed learning about Melocanna baccifera, you can find hours of stimulating reading material throughout the Bambu Batu website. Consider perusing some of these informative articles.
