Age of Bamboo

[Henry Lee]

Mark,

How do you tell the ages of bamboo? I have read that a 2 year old would have 2 branches and 3 year old to have 3 branches, etc. What do you think? :eek:

Henry

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Henry,
you wrote ... I have read that a 2 year old would have 2 branches and 3 year old to have 3 branches ...

Hmmm, what species are you referring to?
Some bamboo species send out additional branches on second and third year at their nodal juncture, whereas Phyllostachys do (edit) NOT produce any additional branches at the nodal juncture.

Each bamboo species bears it's own visual aging characteristics, and the first thing I look at is the culm color and surface textural comparisons of culms of differing ages in the grove, from the youngest to oldest.
It's easiest to guesstimate first 1-5 years, harder to guess as they get older.
I should note that indication of culm age doesn't necessarily = strongest/ best material. Some culms get a better dose of life then other culms. Such is life, even for culms.

The wildest, least managed groves provides valuable insight, because a bamboo culm, after it has died goes through yet another change - returning back to food for future generations. This stage, depending on the species and climate / location, can last longer then the time that the culm was alive in the grove.

One indicator for culm quality is to observe the health and structure of the culm branches, as this is where most photosynthesis is derived.
Did the culms' branch / leaves receive adequate sunlight or was it crowded out by other culms at shoot emergence and during it's life?

This simple branch strength bending test is helpful for gauging a quality of the culm it grew from, when compared with other `lesser advantaged' culms in the grove.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/508/thumbs/1Mvc-141f.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=624)

In this picture of our grove of our Phyllostachys aurea, I have indicated different culm appearances vs age.
(I need to take a clearer pic to better illustrate this age difference)
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/503/thumbs/1P_aurea_4_Austin_TX_USA.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=792)
I taken many pics of various mostly temperate species of bamboo, which I look forward to uploading to the gallery when I have time. Many of them are specific observations of groves on the wild side, also showing changes in culm characteristics as they age.

~ Mark

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Henry, I've finally started uploading my plant pics. I especially like seeing unmanaged groves that have culms of all ages, because looking at the rate of culm degradation and decomposition provides extra clues about the character and properties of the bamboo as a material.

Here's a link (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=502) to the categories for Phyllostachys species at Gallery Bamboo Flora.
You will see a tremendous variation in the appearance of the aging culms, depending if they grew at the sunny perimeter of the grove or in the dark interior.

~ Mark

[Henry Lee]

WOW!

Great post...Great photos. Thanks for sharing. Mark, are these your own?

Henry

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Henry,
Hopefully I'm about halfway through uploading my pics of bamboo from various places and times. When I'm caught up I'll be ready to take another tour of bamboos and materials samples collection trip. (no date set)

Some thoughts ...
Because the Gallery Bamboo Flora (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/) provides for a category for each species, it also makes sense to use this gallery to show pics related to harvesting and the evaluation of plant materials from each species. Much more yet to come on this subject.

The diversity of bamboo species is awesome, and there's much yet unknown and still to be looked into, in comparing the properties and characteristics of bamboo species grown at different locations, and of their potential for various applications and uses.

-------------------

Carole and I have about an acre + of Phyllostachys aurea which "came with the house". We're gradually cutting it back in places and have planted a dozen or so other bamboo species to grow into these areas.

~ Mark