Arundinaria tecta flowering

[Tracy]

We were walking in the woods near Radium Springs in SW GA (just outside of Albany) and noticed the cane there had a few new shoots and was also beginning to flower. This was on January 20, 2007, seemingly a bit early for any new growth, but we have had a very mild winter so far. Has anyone noticed tecta flowering anywhere else?

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Tracy,
I haven't been able to find any tecta locally but I'll be going to Louisiana in a month and will keep a look out for this bamboo.

Do you have any pics?
You can upload them into this post, or at Bamboo Flora in this category:
Arundinaria gigantea spp. tecta (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=750)

I'm wondering if the new growth and flowering is a continuation of autumn shooting. When a bamboo goes into flowering mode it's seasonal shooting time clock gets distorted because often many of the rhizome buds awaken in response to flowering, sending up smaller shoots heavy in flowers.

It will be very interesting to see if the flowering is wide spread or just locally, as this might indicate if there is a wide range of genetic diversity of this species.

Mark

[Tracy]

No pictures yet, but I will try to remember my camera next time I'm in the area, as I plan to keep checking on this stand to see if it produces any viable seed. I haven't noticed that any of the tecta is flowering around our farm. We are about 30 minutes away from the stand that is flowering.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Tracy,
Look forward to seeing the pics. ... and any pics of tecta will be great for the gallery.
BTW do you also see A. gigantea growing in your area, and near tecta?

Also see this thread ... A. gigantea or tecta? (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2335)

Mark

[Tracy]

No, the only A. gigantea I've seen in these parts are the two plants I imported from TN, and they are doing quite well so far.