Phyllostachys spp
Poaceae
Bamboo are perennial grasses, though they can grow much taller than a tree. They have an elegant, flexible growth habit and do not shed their leaves in winter. The leaves are thin, long, arching outward, and bright green in color, growing on culms known as “canes.”
Family: Poaceae
Species: Phyllostachys spp.
Common name: Bamboo
Etymology
The name derives from the Greek phýllon (“leaf”) and stáchys (spiga: "with leafy spikes"), in reference to the lemmas (bracts that wrap around the flower) of the spikelets with well-developed laminae.
Description
Bamboos are perennial, rhizomatous herbaceous plants. As a graminaceous plant, they are herbaceous in all respects, even though they can grow much taller than a typical tree.
The leaves are thin, long, lanceolate, erect, and recurve outwards, and they are bright green in colour. They grow on the culm (commonly called the cane), which is the most important part of the plant for its various uses. The cane is very strong, light, and flexible, and its colour can change with age depending on the variety. Cylindrical nodes and hollow internodes form it.
Flowering is one of the most curious aspects of bamboo. The plant uses all its energy to produce flower spikes—sparse panicles of considerable size, usually with two flowers—so much so that they appear suffering. Once flowered, the plant may die. Fortunately, flowering is rare; it occurs approximately every eighty years in medium and tall species. Most bamboos propagate mainly through their rhizomes.
Habitat
Originally from Asia, bamboo arrived in Europe in the nineteenth century.
Properties and Uses
Phyllostachys edulis has been cultivated for centuries in China for its edible shoots and various industrial uses, such as construction material, yarn, and furniture.
Notes and Curiosities
Bamboos are vigorous and untamed plants due to the rapid growth of their rhizomes. Most bamboos, especially those in temperate climates, have creeping rhizomes with horizontal growth, making them highly invasive. They possess an elegant, flexible form and retain their leaves throughout winter.
The Heller Botanical Garden features giant, dwarf, and medium-sized varieties, showcasing the beauty and versatility of these plants. Bamboo is a species highlighted in the Kyoto Protocol for its ability to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide and purify the environment.
Thanks to a fortunate combination of optimal temperature, soil, and water conditions, various types of bamboo thrive in this versatile garden, creating a space with mysterious charm and oriental characteristics. For example, a red Torii, representing a Japanese gate, heralds a forest of giant bamboo where many specimens of P. edulis grow up to 20 metrestall, enveloping the spectator and evoking a sense of smallness beneath the vault of their foliage. They also line sinuous paths that intersperse with other arboreal splendours (such as Metasequoias, Ginkgo, Japanese maples, palms, camphors, holm oaks, and Taxodiums).
Among the most decorative species, we find:
P. bambusoides, of Japanese origin, has golden-yellow culms streaked with green.
P. edulis, with silvery green culms and delicate, light foliage; in early spring, it produces tender shoots (turions) with a delicate flavour reminiscent of artichokes and asparagus, much appreciated by Japanese monks.
P. aurea, of Chinese origin, is a very vigorous bamboo; its leaves have a warm golden colour and the culms tend to turn yellow with age if well exposed to the sun.
P. nigra, originally from China, with black, shiny culms that reach 7–10 metres in height. Its leaves are glossy green; however, its rhizome is not very creeping and is, therefore, less invasive.