Phyllostachys edulis
Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz., Bambou (Mons), 1906: 39.
Synonyms: Bambusa edulis Carrière, Rev. Hort. 37, 1866: 380; Bambusa heterocycla Carrière, Rev. Hort. 49, 1878: 354; Phyllostachys heterocycla (Carrière) Matsumura, Shokubutsu mei-i, 1895: 213; Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex J. Houz., Bambou (Mons), 1906: 7-14, 55, 97.
Thai names: ไผ่โมโซ (phai moso); ไผ่ขน (phai khon) (BKF [#1368]).
Chinese name: 毛竹 (mao zhu), "mao" = hairy, referring to the plant's puberulent internodes.
Japanese name: モウソウチク (mōsō chiku).
English names: Moso Bamboo (derived from Japanese); Hairy Bamboo.
Distribution: THAILAND (North), in cultivation, was introduced many years ago, but is not widely distributed. Planted at the Royal Project, ดอยอ่างขาง (Doi Ang Khang), at approx. 1,400 m altitude, Chiang Mai Province, and on ดอยติ้ว (Doi Tio) at 1,100 m altitude, Nan Province. — CHINA: Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang, and Taiwan. — JAPAN: introduced. — Introduced in many countries worldwide. — N. Bystriakova & al., Bamboo Biodiversity, 2003: map 41 [#1342].
Culm size: Height 18 (25) m, diameter 18 (20) cm (potential maximum size; in the Chiang Mai plain, altitude 300 m, possibly not over 5 m tall).
Descriptions:
(1) "Culms to 20 m or more, to 20 cm in diam.; internodes to 40 cm or more, basal ones gradually shortened and thickened toward base, initially white powdery, densely puberulent; wall ca. 1 cm thick, nodal ridge inconspicuous at nodes without branches, more prominent at branching nodes and in slender culms; sheath scar setose on margin. Culm sheaths yellow-brown or purple-brown with dark brown spots, densely brown hairy; auricles relatively small; oral setae strongly developed; ligule arcuate to acutely so, long ciliate; blade initially erect, becoming reflexed, green, narrowly triangular or lanceolate to linear. Leaves 2–4 per ultimate branch; auricles inconspicuous; oral setae present; ligule prominent; blade small, thin, 4–11 × 0.5–1.2 cm, abaxially proximally pubescent along midrib, secondary veins 3–6-paired, tertiary veins ca. 9. Flowering branchlets spicate, 5–6 cm; scaly bracts 4–6, gradually larger, sometimes with 1–3 additional bracts resembling foliage leaves at base; spathes more than 10, laterally imbricate, lower ones sterile and deciduous giving naked stalklike axis, upper part puberulent, margins ciliate; auricles absent; oral setae deciduous; blade lanceolate to subulate, small. Pseudospikelets 1–3 per spathe. Spikelets with 1 floret. Glume 1, 1.5–2.8 cm, apex with a small subulate blade, pubescent; rachilla extension short, awnlike, internodes puberulent; lemma 2.2–2.4 cm, distally and marginally pubescent; palea slightly shorter than lemma, distally pubescent; lodicules lanceolate, ca. 5 × 1 mm. Anthers ca. 1.2 cm; filaments ca. 4 cm. Stigmas 3. Caryopsis narrowly elliptic, 5–10 × 1.5–1.8 cm [mm!], apex with persistent style base. New shoots Apr, fl. May–Aug. 2n = 48." — Flora of China, accessed 3 Nov. 2020 [#1303].
(2) Kew GrassBase [#1335].
(3) Flora of Taiwan [#1106].
Images: Line drawing in Flora of China [#1303]. Flora of Taiwan [#1106]. Photos in AsianFlora (culms, habit) [#1332]; BambooWeb.info [#1340]; AsianFlora [#1332].
Uses: Shoots for food, culms for construction. This is the economically most important bamboo in China but is not commercially grown in Thailand.
Cultivation requirements: Prefers acidic soil (5.5–6.5 pH). Does not like water-saturated soil during the rest period in winter. Not suitable for lower areas in Thailand, though plants will survive and reach little height; might thrive well beyond 1,000 m altitude. It was recorded being grown in Phang Nga Province, southern Thailand, with little success, and successfully on ดอยติ้ว (Doi Tio) at 1,100 m altitude, Nan Province, northern Thailand (comments to Khun Sam's post on Facebook, 23 Aug. 2014).
Flowering cycle: 67 years, flowering period 3 years (Y. Isagi & al., 2004); >48, 67 years [#1320].
Seed viability: Six months under normal atmospheric conditions; one year and a little longer under storage at 1–6 °C. Under subtropical and tropical climates, Phyllostachys edulis seeds are more easily attacked by fungi than seeds of other species, hence an anti-fungal treatment is recommended.
Comments:
(1) Widely used for this species is the name Phyllostachys pubescens, but the accepted correct name is Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houzeau — http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:416042-1 — http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242445237
(2) Phyllostachys edulis is very common and widespread in China; a population in flower can be found somewhere almost every year. Therefore, seeds of this species are very often available despite the long flowering cycle.
(3) Phyllostachys edulis can be easily distinguished from other species of Phyllostachys by its puberulent culm-internodes in a young stage.
A forest of Phyllostachys edulis aka Phyllostachys pubescens in China — by courtesy of Lihua Jiang, Yunnan Bamboo, China
Culms in a plantation of Phyllostachys edulis aka Phyllostachys pubescens in China — by courtesy of Lihua Jiang, Yunnan Bamboo, China
Specimens: BS-0227 (seeds), possibly from China, received from E. P., Germany, May 2009. — BS-0627 (seeds), harvested in Yunnan Oct. 2010 and Oct. 2011; BS-0627-1 (seeds) Yunnan Aug./Sep. 2012; BS-0627-2 (seeds) Yunnan Sep. 2013; BS-0806 (seeds) Guangxi Aug. 2014; BS-0829 (seeds) Anhui late 2014; BS-0845 (seeds) Yunnan Aug. 2015; BS-0846, BS-0867 (seeds) Anhui Nov. 2015. Received from FMXG/YNB or FY, China, as "Phyllostachys pubescens, 毛竹 (máo zhú)", 2011–2015.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 270–360 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed germination:
(1) Seeds (BS-0627) were set in moistened medium, coir at 50%, rough sand at 50%, in March 2011, 15–33 °C day temperature, diffuse light, 12–19 °C night temperature, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 14 days, germination rate moderate (40–60%).
(2) 8 of 15 seeds from the Sep. 2013 harvest (BS-0627-2) germinated in a single, non-representative test at Yunnan, Sep./Oct. 2013.
(3) Germination rate of seeds (BS-0627-2) about 40% with temperatures 20–24 °C, using a sterile soilless potting mix as substrate (composted pine bark, peat moss, worm casts, perlite, and clay, ph 6) (F. C., 30 Oct. 2013).
(4) 25 seeds (BS-0845) were laid on moistened tissue paper in a transparent breeding box, and the first visibly germinating seeds appeared on the 9th day; a germination rate of about 40% can be expected (test 151009).
(5) 10 seeds (BS-0829) were soaked in clear water for less than 5 h, then laid on moistened tissue paper in a transparent breeding box, from 29 May 2015, 34–36 °C daytime highs, diffuse light, 24–25 °C night lows, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first seed began to germinate visibly on the 3rd day after sowing, and 6 seeds germinated by the 9th day. A germination rate of about 60% can be expected (test 150529).
(6) Seeds of the new harvest (BS-0846) were tested in January 2016 (test 160119), and the results were similar.
Comments: The unwrapped seeds are dark brown, 8–11 mm long by 1.5–2 mm wide, grooved, and with a persistent long style base.
Phyllostachys edulis aka Phyllostachys pubescens: Husk-wrapped seeds (BS-0829) (top), four seeds (BS-0846) bare of husks (bottom)
Several-month-old seedlings of Phyllostachys edulis (BS-0627)
Phyllostachys edulis (BS-0829), June 2015: Seeds (left), germinating seeds on tissue paper, 21st day (right)
Phyllostachys edulis (BS-0627-1): Germinating seed after 8 months storage (2 July, sown 24 June 2012)
Phyllostachys edulis (BS-0845), Nov. 2015: Germinating seeds on tissue paper, 25th day
Specimens: BT1000 [BBG], BT1011 [BBG] (seeds), from YNB, Yunnan, China, as "Phyllostachys pubescens, 毛竹 （楠竹） (máo zhú, nán zhú)", collected Sep. 2016, received by Boonthammee Bamboo Garden, Hang Dong, Chiang Mai, Oct. 2016 and Mar. 2017.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 350–450 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed germination: The germination rate was low, 5–15% can be expected (test 161014 and test 170313).
Phyllostachys edulis (BT1011): Seeds — by courtesy of คุณธรรมรัตน์ บุญธรรมมี Thammarat Boonthammee, สวนไผ่บุญธรรมมี Boonthammee Bamboo Garden
Phyllostachys edulis cl. striped leaves
Specimens: BS-0717 [SSG] (living plant), in China raised from seeds, plant received from FMXG, China, as "17. 花叶毛竹 (huā yè máo zhú) Phyllostachys moso (striped leaves)", 23 Nov. 2011, to be forwarded to SSG.
Characteristics: Foliage-leaf blades with cream stripes of different widths.
Comments: No statements can be made about further characteristics and species identification since the plant has been forwarded to Khun Satha's garden (SSG, เวียงดอกไม้หอมเชียงใหม่), Doi Saket, approx. 930 m altitude.