Tali' means string which can be split from the young culms and has suppleness of leather. The most important construction species in Indonesia, strong and durable. It is valued for its black culms which are used to make furniture and musical instruments. The shoots are also edible turning a yellow-pink after cooking. It has striking leaves variegated with white stripes.
Culms have short internodes, are durable and pest resistant.
Tabasheer is also a product of this species. Long rhizome necks form an open clump. C - A very attractive erect clumping species with long narrow leaves, native to New Guinea. Shoots are delicious and can be eaten raw. Not tolerant of wet soil and does not do well in pots, best propagated by divisions of clumps in the ground.