Mark Meckes
18th December 2003, 11:46 PM
Phyllostachys nigra, (Black Bamboo) culms are at first, green, then they gradually change their color to a black(ish) color...
What causes this color change?
I would have made a guess that it is brought on by sunlight - like getting a tan, but actually, the opposite occurs.
In shady conditions the change happens more rapidly, whereas in full sun the change takes longer and is initially more speckled in appearance.
We have black bamboo growing in several locations on our property, here in Central Texas...
8 month old P.nigra culm growing in partial shade
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/527/thumbs/1031214-525F.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=477)
8 month old P. nigra culm growing in full sun
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/527/thumbs/1031214-535F.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=478)
There appears to (often but not always) be a pattern of the color changing at the upper part of an internode first (as shown)
Mark
What causes this color change?
I would have made a guess that it is brought on by sunlight - like getting a tan, but actually, the opposite occurs.
In shady conditions the change happens more rapidly, whereas in full sun the change takes longer and is initially more speckled in appearance.
We have black bamboo growing in several locations on our property, here in Central Texas...
8 month old P.nigra culm growing in partial shade
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/527/thumbs/1031214-525F.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=477)
8 month old P. nigra culm growing in full sun
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/527/thumbs/1031214-535F.JPG (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=478)
There appears to (often but not always) be a pattern of the color changing at the upper part of an internode first (as shown)
Mark