Chusquea_quila

<i>Chusquea quila</i>

Chusquea quila

Species of grass

Quick Facts Chusquea quila, Scientific classification ...

Chusquea quila, or Spanish: quila, is a perennial bamboo that grows in the humid temperate forests of Chile and Argentina.

In contrast to most bamboos, it grows as a dense, climbing or decumbent shrub. Its aerial culms are solid, unlike most bamboos, which have hollow culms. Chusquea quila may form pure stands called quilantales occupying all the understory of a forest. Chusquea quila and whole quilantales flower every 10 to 30 years (or 18 to 20 years in some accounts).[1] The seeding that follow the flowering has been associated to mice vermin.[1]

Flour can be prepared from its seeds and its shoots are edible.[2] Chusquea quila species have been historically harvested for seed by indigenous peoples.[1] Mapuche and Pehuenche people are reported to have made flour of the seeds.[1]

References

  1. [1]
    Pardo B., Oriana; Pizarro, José Luis (2014). Chile: Plantas alimentarias Prehispánicas (in Spanish) (2015 ed.). Arica, Chile: Ediciones Parina. pp. 150–152. ISBN 9789569120022.
  2. [2]
    "Chusquea quila", Enciclopedia de la Flora Chilena (in Spanish), retrieved July 30, 2013
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