ID this bamboo? (Chusquea gigantea)

[voodoolord]

It has long willowy type branches, I think it is pretty stunning. The only thing I saw that was close was Bambusa multiplex but I havent seen anything that looked like this. Thanks for any help.
Isaac
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/784/medium/IMG_1304.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=3891&cat=784&ppuser=2265) large image (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=3891&size=big&cat=784&ppuser=2265)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/784/medium/IMG_1305.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=3890&cat=784&ppuser=2265) Large image (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=3890&size=big&cat=784&ppuser=2265)

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Isaac,
Having not seen this species first hand, I'll take a guess that it's a Chusquea culeou.

Two links with examples of this species:

The plant: http://www.pbase.com/theukoasis/image/58524444

Branching at node: http://www.hardybamboo.com/images/products/b_chusq_culeou.jpg

This will be our first Chusquea uploaded to the site so I've cross linked them over to our Gallery Bamboo Flora.

Please do upload more pics of different characteristics of the plant either in your post or at the gallery.

It looks like you have a growing a collection of bamboo.
Do I see Pseudosasa japonica, behind the Chusquea, and is that Phyllostachys nigra to the left?

Cheers,
Mark

[voodoolord]

Well I guess the quest for proper ID takes a different turn, I have not heard of that variety of bamboo.
I have Pseudosasa japonica, Phyllostachys nigra, Phyllostachys vivax (I think) and the Chusquea in that area I cleared out for later propagation. I also have Phyllostachys bambusoides, Pleioblastus distichus, Sasa palmata, Phyllostachys aurea, Semiarundinaria fastuosa and possibly some other vivax growing in other parts of the property. I found a grove at a house that has been for sale for a long time. I contacted the owner and made a deal with him that I would clean up his grove there in exchange for some plants and rhisome. I took only the ones that were growing into the other species areas or growing into the trees. Im hoping they take root well. Ive only been into bamboo since last summer but have learned alot in the last several months.
Thanks for the ID Ill go check out the links and do a search on the name. Ill also get you some pics of the grove I thinned out.
Isaac

[voodoolord]

After looking at the second picture you posted, the branching at node, That is exactly what one of the culms looks like right now. The only difference from the first pic is that in this grove all the culms were the yellow and green, there was no purple. so maybe its another variety of the Chusquea?

[Mark Meckes]

Nice collection and great opportunity! ... though it is quite a workout to restore groves gone wild.
(I've edited spelling of plants you listed if it can be of any help)

... in this grove all the culms were the yellow and green, there was no purple. so maybe its another variety of the Chusquea?

The purple tinge on some culms may have been due to a combination of cold weather or more likely, sun exposure.

Semiarundinaria fastuosa also does this especially in full sunlght:
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/2/thumbs/29040117-560F.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=814)

Was the Chusquea at the planting site growing in more shade?
The reason I ask is that internode spacings on yours appears a little longer, possibly due to shade, ample moisture/growing conditions.

As far as correct species ID ... I'll be first to culmcede ;) if it's a different species.
The 2006 American Bamboo Society Source list shows 31 species available somewhere in the US ... but this is a good species to start from.

Chusquea culeou
Hardy clumper from southern Chile, long cultivated in Europe.
Has many branches per node, all equal size.
Many different clones available of varying hardiness and form

Max height: 15 ft (5M)
Max diameter: 1" (2.5cm)
Min. temperature: 0F (-18C)
Sun/Shade: Full Sun


The culms on this species are solid.

Mark

[voodoolord]

Thanks for fixing my spelling, I didnt want to go through the whole names because my typing is slow. The culms are solid on this bamboo, that was the first thing I noticed when I cut it. the grove was trending east-west so it got a bit of sun but it was so dense that it probably was shady. I was amazed how beautiful it was when it was done, it really looked raged when I got there. Im really trying to get all these growing well so any advice you can give as far as getting them established would be appreciated. theres alot of rhisome between the black bamboo that you cant see. Im in the process of uploading other pics. I just bought some Moso and aureosulcata today, Im pretty excited!

[Mark Meckes]

Cool! This is a great time of year for bamboo. I'm out in the garden every day checking for new growth and shoot emergence.
Did you plant some of these bamboo last autumn or all this spring?

With limited space I also tend to interplant varieties closer together than perhaps I should, but already this year we've had numerous culinary delights as a result of selective thinning of wayward 'shoot for table' varieties.
Feel free to ask any growing questions you may have, here or better still as a New Thread topic.

If you have any problem resizing pics,(at the gallery there's a 300K limit per pic / best size up to 1024/768 pixels), ... or you can upload as attachments into your posts (no size restrictions) and I can assist cross linking to both places.

Mark

[voodoolord]

cool!, I tried uploading them and hit the size restriction. I allways take large pictures because they are better when you zoom in. I did plant some bambasoides and what I think are either vivax or henon last fall. Im still waiting/praying for shoots.all of the Japonica, Nigra Henon and Chusquea I have I got a couple of weeks ago, they are still fresh in the ground. That area that you saw is kind of a temporary place until I decide where I want everything. I have five acres but most of it is shady forest and ravines so I need to pick my areas carefully. Im realy hoping for some shoots but Im just not sure im going to get any this year.

[Mark Meckes]

That area that you saw is kind of a temporary place until I decide where I want everything.
I did the same thing 5 years ago and planted about 15 species in a 50x50ft holding area till I could get around to thinning out some weed trees in our 2 acre property and build up the fertility in spots on our steep ravine.
I finally accomplished some of this last autumn and am just beginning dig up some transplants from the holding area and will do more this autumn.

It's been interesting planting so many species together and observing them fight it out for a place in the sun. It's finally reached a stage where I'm removing all previous small diameter whipper snappers and selectively thinning all but the largest diameter culms.

Mark

[voodoolord]

Hey Mark, I just wanted to follow up on the Chusquea. Its amazing what you can learn in a few months, I'm now up to 45 species of bamboo including a rare gold stem Moso that Im pretty excited about. I've worked out that the Chusquea is Chusquea gigantea for sure, I was able to look at another grove and verify it for sure. Its put up five new shoots this year and is doing well in a mostly sunny area. I also picked up a Chusquea culeou 'Cana Prieta' from Gib at tradewinds nursery and a Chusquea culeau 'Hilliers Form' as well, both are fantastic examples of the Chusqueas which are close to my favorites among all the bamboo's. Any way I just thought I would follow up on this thread. Thanks for your help.
voodoo

[Mark Meckes]

Hi voodoo, thanks for the follow up!
A new category has been started at the gallery for Chusquea gigantea and your pics were moved there.
Yes it does look like this...
"Closely allied to C. culeou, many branches per node, one to three thicker and very long. An open clumper. Has been previously sold as C. breviglumis".

If you have more pics and of your other bamboos please do upload them at the gallery or here and we'll set up new categories for them as we have no pics of these species yet.

45 species! Quite a collection you're amassing.

Re; rare Golden Moso ... Which one have you got? ..

Phyllostachys edulis 'Bicolor'
Yellow culms with green sulcus

or

Phyllostachys edulis 'Goldstripe'
Moso with yellow striations (stripes on culm)

Mark

[voodoolord]

Hey Mark. The Moso is called gold stem moso because the culms and branches turn yellow when they mature. It was originaly bought at a ABS auction in portland. I think it came from RKR nurseries. Theres not alot of info on it, actually theres no info on it realy that I can find. I just picked up a Fargesia Scabrida thats absolutely gorgeous. have you seen that one yet? Ned has pics of one and info on it at bamboogarden.com. Thanks for the reply.