vamsalocana :

Taxonomical Classification

Kingdom: Plantae - Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta - Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta - Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Bambusa
Species: Bambusa arundinacea

Allied species:

>In Atharvaveda, Acharya Saayana has defined Venu as – hollow inside and has mentioned its indication in snakebite, scorpion poisoning, disturbed sleep,

headache, pain in flanks and abdominal pain.

>In Kautilya Arthashastra: The forest flora is classified into nine vargas one of which is VenuVarga wherein enumeration of different types of bamboo is found.

>In Charaka Samhita: Vamsha is included in kashaya skandha. It finds its utility in prameha, kshataksheena, kasa.

>In Sushruta Samhita, Tugaksheeri is mentioned under kakolyadi gana. Various other contexts of its utility are in mahakushta, prameha, also as virechaka, in agnikarma, anushastra and vrana bandhana dravya.

>Ashtanga Sangrahakara is of the opinion that vamsha ankura is kaphaghna and has katu vipaka

>In Ashtanga Hrudaya, Properties of Venuyava (seeds of bamboo): ruksha and

ushna veerya is mentioned.

Vamsakareera (tender shoots of bamboo) causes rukshata, vidaaha and increases vata and pitta and is mentioned under shaka varga.

>Dalhana envisages twaksara, twak-ksheeri, and tugaksheeri as synonyms for vamsha lochana.

>Hemadri has referred vamsha ankura to be tridoshahara.

>Almost all the Nighantukaras have provided synonyms and description of Vamsha

VERNACULAR NAMES

Sanskrit: आर्द्रपत्रकः Ardrapatrakah,वंशः Vamsh,कण्टकः Kantakah,आमुपः Amupah,वम्भः Vambhah,कण्टकिलः Kantakilah
English: eye of bamboo, Spiny bamboo/ Thorny bamboo,Bamboo
Hindi: बांस Baans,बम्बू Bambu,बंस Buns
Urdu: Urduنبس Buns,بمبو Bambu,بانس Baans 0
Telugu: బొంగువెదురు Bongu-veduru,వంశము Vamsamu,వెదురు Veduru
Bengali: বাঁশ Baansha
Marathi: कळक Kalaka,माणगा Maanga,वेळू Velu,बांबू Baamboo,कळंक Kalanka
Konkani: वसो Vaso,वेलु Velu,वासो Vaaso
Oriya: Bans
Gujarathi: વાંસ Vaans,બામ્બુ Baambu
Tamil: Periya Mungil,Peru Varia Mungi,Mungil,பெருமூங்கில் Peru-munkil,குழாய்மூங்கில் Kulay-munkil
Malayalam: MalayalamIlli,Mula,മുള Mula
Kannada: ಬಿದಿರು Bidiru,ವಂಶ Vamsha
Punjabi: Magar bans
Arabic: Tabashir
Spanish: Bambú
Assamese: মোকাল-বাঁহ Mokal Baansh,জাতি-বাঁহ Jaati Baansh,Kotoha-banh/ Kata-banh/ Kota-banh
Japanese: Ma-take
Chinese: Yin du ce zhu, Ci zhuang ce zhu, Ci zhu (Taiwan)
French: Bambou roseau
German: Großer Dornenbambus, Rohrbambus
Burma: Vd-chha, Vathega-kiyo, Vasan, Vathe gasu
Nepal: Bhaalu baans (Bhalu bans), Kanta baans (Kanta bans), Tanu baans (Tanu bans), Taamaa baans (Tama bans)
Persian: nai, tabashir
Sinhalese: Katu una.
Tulu: muŋgilụ

Varities:

As per Ashtanga Hrudaya and Raja Nighantu: 2 types

1. Ghana vamsha

2. Randhra vamsha: Narahari pandit, author of Raja nighantu mentions the properties of randhra vamsha in moolakadivarga as deepana, pachana, ruchikruth, ajeernanashana, shulaghna, hrudya and gulmanashana.