The rhizome
The rhizome is the “underground stem” from which the roots and the aerial part grow of the bamboo grows.
Two main types of rhizomes exist :
- running or creeping rhizomes which cover a larger area of soil
- and cespitose rhizomes which grow less and thus cover a smaller area of soil.
The rhizomes stock the reserves needed for the spectacular growth of the spears otherwise known as “bamboo shoots”. While growing, these very tender shoots are protected by overlapping scales called sheaths. Once bamboo shoots have finished their development, they become culms.
Two main types of rhizomes exist :
- running or creeping rhizomes which cover a larger area of soil
- and cespitose rhizomes which grow less and thus cover a smaller area of soil.
The rhizomes stock the reserves needed for the spectacular growth of the spears otherwise known as “bamboo shoots”. While growing, these very tender shoots are protected by overlapping scales called sheaths. Once bamboo shoots have finished their development, they become culms.
The culm or stem
Culm is the word used for the main stem (in the Poacea family). The culm is also sometimes referred to as the cane. Sugar cane however is not a bamboo. In most species, the culm is a hollow stem with partitions although exceptions do exist and some culms are solid.
Culms develop very rapidly and once they have appeared outside the rhizome, they reach maturity in a few weeks after which they stop growing. Branches develop on the culm at each knot. The flowers are grouped in inflorescence. Sometimes a bamboo flowers but this is rare.
Culms develop very rapidly and once they have appeared outside the rhizome, they reach maturity in a few weeks after which they stop growing. Branches develop on the culm at each knot. The flowers are grouped in inflorescence. Sometimes a bamboo flowers but this is rare.
Flowering
Luckily, bamboo flowering is not limited to what is written in most articles on the subject which indicate that when one bamboo flowers, all individual members of the same species in the whole world flower and then die. The cases of this actually happpening are rare.
The fact that one bamboo is seen to be flowering does not mean that all fellow bamboo plants of that species are going to flower and then die. It might be a sign announcing gregarious flowering, which always begins that way (flowering of all the bamboo plants in the sale line), but statistically there is a much greater likelihood of its being simply sporadic flowering which only affects a few individual plants.
There is also Phyllostachys elegans in which practically all the members of the same line flower every year and the plant does not seem to suffer for it.
The fact that one bamboo is seen to be flowering does not mean that all fellow bamboo plants of that species are going to flower and then die. It might be a sign announcing gregarious flowering, which always begins that way (flowering of all the bamboo plants in the sale line), but statistically there is a much greater likelihood of its being simply sporadic flowering which only affects a few individual plants.
There is also Phyllostachys elegans in which practically all the members of the same line flower every year and the plant does not seem to suffer for it.
False friends
The following should not be confused with bamboo : Provence cane (Arundo donax)
- Pogonatherum paniceum, often confused with and sold as bamboo ;
- Dracaena, known as Chinese cane, which is infact very fashionable at the moment.
Due to the resemblance of the leaves or some such similarity, the common or garden names of some plants contain the word “bamboo” : sacred bamboo (Nandina) ; bamboo orchid (Dendrobium) ; bamboo begonia (Begonia albo-picta – greenish white flowers) ; bamboo iris (Iris confusa) ; bamboo ficus (Ficus microcarpa) ; bamboo-leaf oak (Quercus myrsinfolia).
- Pogonatherum paniceum, often confused with and sold as bamboo ;
- Dracaena, known as Chinese cane, which is infact very fashionable at the moment.
Due to the resemblance of the leaves or some such similarity, the common or garden names of some plants contain the word “bamboo” : sacred bamboo (Nandina) ; bamboo orchid (Dendrobium) ; bamboo begonia (Begonia albo-picta – greenish white flowers) ; bamboo iris (Iris confusa) ; bamboo ficus (Ficus microcarpa) ; bamboo-leaf oak (Quercus myrsinfolia).