P. aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' with speckled culms

[ghmerrill]

There were only two culms from the same rhizome like this.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/573/thumbs/culm-view.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=4863) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/573/thumbs/sulca-stripe.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=4862) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/573/thumbs/node-close-up.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=4861)

I know the nearest plant is a spectabilis, but I have never seen culms like this on a spectabilis.
Very attractive coloring. The other culm had more of the spotting to it, and the culms have the same texture or a bit rougher than the spectabilis.

any thoughts?

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Gene,
I think that this is a local environmental effect as I've seen this happen to parts of other Phyllostachys species at different locations, that don't normally have speckles etc.
I believe when this occurrs that the culms are growing in full sun exposure.

Keep us updated on how this progresses and if it continues to affect future culms and if the same thing happens to the other bamboo species that you mentioned in this post:

I am going to get some pics of a possible sport off of a friends P. aureosulcata 'Spectabilis', at least, that is the only plant in the area that could match the texture of these culms. there is a pronounced zig zag to the culm, green sulca, rough texture, but there are some culms spotted in black, similar to a P. Nigra that is coloring up. the oldest of the two culms is much more densly spotted, the younger still distincly spotted. The only other plants in the area are P. aurea, P. aurea 'koi', P. aurea 'Flavescens-inversa', P. bissetii, and Semiarundinaria yashadaki 'Kimmei'.
It caught my attention because last time I was out there, several months ago, I did not notice it, and thursday, while admiring their plants, these two culms stuck out immediately, as they have grown into the P. aurea 'koi'. The closest plant is the P. aureosulcata 'Spectabilis', and both culms are in a line as if they have grown from the same rhizome. ...

Mark

[voodoolord]

The last time I saw a specimin like this was when a guy was using monkey dung and jungle juice to feed and water his plant. I would suggest that you keep any monkey fluids or weird bird droppings away from your plants, it might clear up your bamboo achne but then again you might want to use some pro-active solution to get you started. Just my 2 cents ;)

[ghmerrill]

hey Issac, I must say, that out of the two of us, I think I am the only one who has not had my monkey puting its fluids on my bamboo! before anyone gets the WRONG idea, you should post a photo of your creature in the forum "creatures of the bamboo grove". just make sure you get pics of the right monkey!


BTW.... walking down the street and asking women if they would like to pet your monkey is tacky.... :eek:

Gene
:)

[Mark Meckes]

What I've noticed is that these freckle like speckles are unlike the coloration that develops on species such as P. nigra, which is only "skin deep".
These spots can permeate right into the woody part of the bamboo.

Here's a couple more examples of this effect on other species ...
Brachystachyum densiflorum - Central Georgia USA
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/609/thumbs/BdensiflorumE1BGA050216-732.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1626)

Phyllostachys nuda - Southeast Texas USA
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/PnudaJBNTX070604-9076.jpg (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=4759)