unknown "timber bamboo" (Ans P.n. 'Henon')

[glenn smith]

...bought at a farmer's market as "timber bamboo".

[Mark Meckes]

Hi glenn,
If you are able to upload more pics, plus make them a larger image size, then I will be able to take a closer look at the details necessary to ID your bamboo.

Mark

[glenn smith]

The light is fading here, but manual focus got me a few clear shots.

glenn

[glenn smith]

more from this AM

[Mark Meckes]

Great pics glenn!
I'm pretty sure that this is Phyllostachys nigra 'Henon' (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=529) (pics at Bamboo Flora)
It's a little harder to see minute details when the shoots are wet (... though what a sight to see the reflection in the raindrops and the vibrant color of the shoots! ...).
Some ID indicators that gave me clues ...
- The hairy fringe along the sheath margins
- Some scattered tan colored hairs on the surface of the sheath
- The slightly crinkled sheath blade at the top of the sheath, whiuch is more pronounced in the first few feet of a shoot's emergence.
- The maroon color of the raised ligule (at the top of the sheath and at the base of the sheath blade
- The presence of auricles and oral setae (ear-like appendages - auricles, with frills - oral setae) at the top of the sheath where the sheath blade begins
- When the sheaths drop off, there should be a ring of fuzz remaining at the node sheath scar, which should stay there for a few months during the culm's first year of life.
- The culm surface should have a very light (to the touch) velvety coating on the culm surface, which wears off in the first year.

This species is also sometimes referred to as a Timber Bamboo due to it's potential culm size and large diameter growth in ideal conditions.
Considered the 'Mother' of nigras, it only bears this species name because the nigra species were named first.
Technically speaking I think if time could be turned back, black bamboos would be called Phyllostachys henon 'Nigra' ... but I'm assuming some names are now 'carved in stone'.
If perchance your Henon develops scattered/spaced brown/black blotches on the culm surface, then it would be Phyllostachys nigra 'Bory'
... but I'll assume it is Henon for now.

Mark

[glenn smith]

I see I've a LOT of terminology to catch up on...!
Now I can put one more name on my little map.
This is the first year the plant has put up any culms of significant size; I'm hoping winter won't break them.

Thank you Mark!