Mark Meckes
28th September 2003, 10:32 PM
Robert Saporito, of Tropical Bamboo (http://www.tropicalbamboo.com) in Florida, sent me several sample sections of Bambusa lako, to experiment with (thanks!), the first time I've had an opportunity to try this species of bamboo. With a hardiness of only 28 oF/-2 oC, it's not able to be grown to full maturity in most parts of the US.
The material (which were culm sections not useable for propagation cuttings) was fresh young (possibly 2 yr old) culms, several 2" diameter pieces.
At the time, I didn't know it was Bambusa lako, I thought it was Gigantochloa atroviolacea... because it was purple/black in surface skin colour.
But now I know it is easy to tell the difference ...
- Bambusa lako - shiny culm surface
- Gigantochloa atroviolacea - matt culm surface
I had read somewhere that young G. atro.. culms were used to make rope/lashings. Maybe string and lashing materials can be made from Bambusa lako as well.
This bamboo splits quite easily through the node, lengthwise as well as cross-sections of each strip.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3024/thumbs/1030802-551.JPG Here's a few more pics (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3024)
Mark
The material (which were culm sections not useable for propagation cuttings) was fresh young (possibly 2 yr old) culms, several 2" diameter pieces.
At the time, I didn't know it was Bambusa lako, I thought it was Gigantochloa atroviolacea... because it was purple/black in surface skin colour.
But now I know it is easy to tell the difference ...
- Bambusa lako - shiny culm surface
- Gigantochloa atroviolacea - matt culm surface
I had read somewhere that young G. atro.. culms were used to make rope/lashings. Maybe string and lashing materials can be made from Bambusa lako as well.
This bamboo splits quite easily through the node, lengthwise as well as cross-sections of each strip.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/data/3024/thumbs/1030802-551.JPG Here's a few more pics (http://www.bamboocraft.net/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=3024)
Mark