| Valiha | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type specimen of Valiha diffusa at the MNHN, Paris | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Bambusoideae |
| Tribe: | Bambuseae |
| Subtribe: | Hickeliinae |
| Genus: | Valiha S.Dransf. |
| Species | |
Valiha is a bamboo genus in the tribe Bambuseae found in Madagascar. The genus is named after a musical instrument, the valiha, which was formerly constructed from the culms of this plant. [1] It may have come from Proto-Austronesian *balija or *baliga referring to Dendrocalamus strictus used to make cutting blades and beaters due to its hard properties – the beater tool also called a belira or balila in many related Austronesian languages – later transferred to newly discovered Malagasy bamboos. [2]
