Sinobambusa tootsik
Sinobambusa tootsik (Siebold ex Makino) Makino, J. Jap. Bot. ii, 1918: 8; Makino ex Nakai, J. Arnold Arbor. 6, 1925: 152.
Synonyms: Arundinaria tootsik Siebold ex Makino, Bot. Mag. Tokyo 19, 1905: 63; Semiarundinaria tootsik (Siebold ex Makino) Muroi, Amator. Herb. 10, 1942: 210.
Thai name: No known records.
Chinese name: 唐竹 (tang zhu).
English name: Chinese Temple Bamboo.
Distribution: THAILAND (North): Chiang Mai Province, introduced, possibly by Chinese immigrants, and now locally naturalized and cultivated in mountainous areas of Mae Taeng District. — CHINA (South): Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi. — VIETNAM (North). — JAPAN, introduced.
Descriptions:
(1) "Culms 5–12 m, 2–6 cm in diam.; internodes initially deep green, flattened above branches, 30–40(–80) cm, glaucous, glabrous, apically minutely papillate. Culm sheaths initially red-brown, basally suboblong, leathery, slightly glaucous, setose, densely so at base, margins ciliate, apex broadly rounded; auricles very variable, scabrid, tomentose; oral setae curved, ca. 2 cm; ligule arcuate, ca. 4 mm, uniform; blade reflexed, green, lanceolate. Leaves 3–6(–9) per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles obscure; oral setae deciduous, radiate, ca. 1.5 cm, undulate; ligule truncate or subrounded; blade 6–22 × 1–3.5 cm, secondary veins 4–8-paired, margins serrulate. … [flowers described] … New shoots Apr–May." — Flora of China, accessed 18 Oct. 2020 [#1303].
(2) Kew GrassBase [#1335].
Images: Line drawing in Flora of China [#1303]. Photos in BambooWeb.
Uses: Culms for pipes and poles; plants as garden ornamentals.
Specimen: BS-0607 [BBG] (living plants), Chiang Mai, Mae Taeng, บ้านป่าแป๋ (Ban Pa Pae), slope on the roadside, possibly originally planted, now naturalized, 5 Dec. 2010.
Sinobambusa tootsik 'Suzukonarihira'
Synonyms: Sinobambusa tootsik 'Albostriata'; Sinobambusa tootsik f. albostriata Muroi ex S. Suzuki. J. Jap. Bot 70 (4), 1995: 238.
Thai name: ไผ่ด่าง (phai dang); "dang" means brindle, dappled, or uneven color.
Distribution: THAILAND (North), in cultivation. — Cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of many countries worldwide.
Local distribution: Rarely offered for sale at Kham Thiang Market, Chiang Mai.
Culm size: Height 7 (9) m, diameter 4 cm.
Images: Photos in BambooWeb.
Comments: An impressive stand of this cultivated variety can be seen at the school of บ้านป่าแป๋ (Ban Pa Pae), Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province.
Specimens: BS-0272 [BBG] (living plants), Chiang Mai, cult.; BS-0607-1 [-] (living plants), Chiang Mai, Mae Taeng, บ้านป่าแป๋ (Ban Pa Pae), cult.
Characteristics: Rhizome monopodial. Culms straight upright. Branches several. Foliage-leaf blades with cream-colored stripes.
Uses: Plants as garden ornamentals (slightly invasive, forming a grove).
Cultivation requirements: Easy-growing, thrives well in heavy (loamy, clay) moisture-retentive soil with good drainage; prefers partial or light shade.