Bambusa sp. (CN: Yunnan) long internodes

Thai name: No known records.

Chinese name: 长节簕竹 (zhǎng jié lè zhú).

Distribution: THAILAND: introduced from China, in cultivation, rare. — CHINA (South): Yunnan, in cultivation.

Culm size: Height 10–16 m, diameter 8–15 cm.

Description: None available.

Specimens: BS-0773 [BBG] (living plant), raised from seeds; BS-0868 [BBG] (living plant), raised from seeds; the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Bambusa sp. with long internodes, 长节簕竹 (zhǎng jié lè zhú)"; collected Mar. 2013 (BS-0773, BS-0773-1, BS-0773-2), received Apr. 2013; collected Mar. 2015 (BS-0823); collected Dec. 2015 (BS-0868), received Apr. 2016.

Characteristics: Culm-internodes long (assumed to be longer than in most known species of Bambusa).

Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.

Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 320–340 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).

Seed germination: (1) 10 seeds were laid on moistened tissue paper in early May 2013, with atmospheric humidity >70%, the first shoot emerged after 5 days, all seeds germinated. — (2) 64 seeds were used for germination at about 25 °C in May/June 2013, 58 seeds germinated (germination rate very high, 90%). — (3) Germination rate about 50% with temperatures 22–26 °C, using a sterile soilless potting mix as substrate (composted pine bark, peat moss, worm casts, perlite, and clay, 6 pH) (F. C., 30 Oct. 2013). — (4) 5 seeds (BS-0773-1) tested 29 Oct. – 13 Nov. 2013, all 5 seeds germinated.

Uses: Recorded to be good for both shoot and timber production.

Cultivation requirements: Recorded to be drought resistant, and to tolerate a little frost (to -3 °C).

Comments:

(1) Flowers not seen. The plants in Yunnan flowered first in 2013.

(2) Additional information: Bamboo seeds @YunnanBambooCo on Facebook, 20 Nov. 2019.