Sydney, Australia Giant Bamboo????

[Lil Nate]

I'm NEW HERE....
I have found two small bamboo groves that I am interested in propagating, one is a smaller species (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2358) and the other a Giant. As I am still just researching bamboos I am having great difficulty in learning how to identify...I do realize that sometimes it is near impossible without looking at the rhizomes, nodes etc, but what the heck ...got any ideas????? ...are certain species more suited to craftwork than others? Do this species seem suitable?
...I've got two goals (besides having a tropical front yard)...one is to make a bamboo bracelet for my fiance' and the other is to make a mug to drink a daiquiri from.

Here is the large species 4-5 inches in diameter

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Lil Nate,
It may take some guesswork and require more pics to ID these bamboos.
The smaller diameter bamboo ID has been moved over to a new thread to make it easier for discussion.
See: ID this bamboo? 1-2" diameter, Sydney, Australia (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2358)

Also your pics have been uploaded as attachments into the posts. If you have any more pics you can upload them with your posts - see Manage Attachments below message posting box.

My first guess would be Bambusa beecheyana (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=530) but this is just a guess as this bamboo grows differently in differing environments, and there are other species with similar traits.

Are you able to provide any more pics, including it's overall shape and form?
Also if there is any new shoots, close ups would be very helpful.

Regarding species for craft use, many more species can be used for a wide variety of craft applications then for example, building and structural applications that must outlive a 30 year home mortgage and endure specific engineering requirements. :)

Mark