Phyllostachys nuda

[Mark Meckes]

Phyllostachys nuda (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=511) (Gallery Category in Bamboo Flora)

Phyllostachys nuda is one of the most cold tolerant of the `timber' bamboos, performing slightly better than other Phyllostacys spp in the severest of conditions.

In the temperate zones of the US, Phyllostachys nuda is seen growing much much less then Phyllostachys aureosulcata. This is because Yellow Groove (Phyllostachys aureosulcata) was introduced nearly 70 years ago to the general public, through a few sources, and was distributed from hand to hand over the years, whereas P. nuda, which was introduced into the USA in 1907, remained in a few obscure locations for many decades prior to becoming generally available.

For craft use, Phyllostachys nuda is more durable than P. aureosulcata because the culms have a more impervious lusterous waxy surface that resists moisture. P. aureosulcata has a surface of scaly-like wax, and
when dried, the surface is more porous to moisture.
(This can be remedied)
Yellow Groove makes up for it by providing uniquely bent, zig-zagged and character filled culms.

Here's some pics of Phyllostachys nuda growing in the Pocono Mts of NE Pennsylvania, USA
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Mvc-081f.jpg
Phyllostachys nuda- spring shoots (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=567) - Pocono Mts NE Pa, USA - about 3 weeks old, June 7,01

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Mvc-109f.jpg
Shoots rising from the edge of the grove (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=597)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Mvc-082f.jpg
Phyllostachys nuda - culm sheaths (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=568)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Mvc-083f.jpg
Phyllostachys nuda - Close-up of culm sheath ligules (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=569)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Mvc-084f.jpg
Phyllostachys nuda - Close-up of new culm nodes (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=570)

- Waxy lustre above node and powdery white surface coating below. This powder fades during the first season, with the exception of a brillant white band under the node.
By harvest time this white band will have faded, and
the culms become an increasingly lighter, olive green.

Side Note: I didn't find any P. nuda growing in Texas when I was there. I was told that maybe it was thought that because of it's cold hardiness, that it might not be suitable to the Texas heat.
But I gave some to a friend in Central Texas in 1996, and it's flourishing with gusto!

~ Mark

[Leptomorph]

I planted Phyllostachys nuda (hopefully) last spring but noticed leaf sheath oral setae. From McClure's description of P. nuda there should be no setae. Wondering if I have the real thing or is it an impostor?

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/566/thumbs/Phnudamaybe2.JPG See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1212&cat=566)

[Mark Meckes]

Hi Leptomorph, you're right, that's what McClure's description says..

"The name `nuda' refers to the complete lack of auricles and oral setae on both culm and foliage sheaths.
Foliage leaves without auricles and oral setae, ligules prominently protruding, the apex strongly convex, the margin at first with minute hairs..."

Do you have a pic of a culm/node section? I can take a guess.
In a couple of months you will know for sure, when the shoots rise.
Once you've seen Phyllostachys nuda for sure, you will know it.
I have some more pics of P.nuda I will upload into the Gallery later tonight.

Mark

[Leptomorph]

When I read that description I figured my plant couldn't be P. nuda. I asked the grower about it and he said it's not a case of mistaken identity. Since then I've asked a couple other growers if their "nuda" have leaf sheath setae and they've answered "yes."

My plant is small and currently buried with straw, but I will try to get some photos of shoots and culms this spring.

[kstanwick]

OK Mark thanks for the reply....this IS the post i read that was linked from the gardenweb forum.....or at least parts of it..... I looked over the pics you have of the nuda in Easton. Is that a wild grove? I'm wondering if it possible that I might be able to dig a couple of culms. Or is it on private property?? Hard to say but it looks like it might be along the river?? Anyway, I'm just finding out about this site and this too has a wealth of info.....Nuda looks like it might be a good variety to have where i am in Stillwater...not too far from easton....

Kurt

[Leptomorph]

Mark, Thanks for the additional excellent photos. My plant is still puny so it won't be looking like that for a while, if ever, around here.

Kurt, Hey! Mike here (aka Thuja). I came up with a better moniker for this forum. How do you like it? Anyway, I wish I lived close enough to just drive over and see that grove. It looks beautiful. We could canoe down the river. ;)

BTW, great forum here Mark. What an amazing collection of info! *Thanks*

[kstanwick]

Ah..HA...hey Mike...just found this site and forum. I am assuming the Mark is the man behind the wheel here....from his 800 or so posts....lol...BTW nice job from what i can see so far.....This might be the new hang out for me vs the other forum....

Kurt

[Mark Meckes]

... I've asked a couple other growers if their "nuda" have leaf sheath setae and they've answered "yes."

Hey leptomorph, you wouldn't per chance like runners, as your name implies?
BTW All bamboos are clumpers ... some are just more open about it!

You wrote... My plant is still puny so it won't be looking like that for a while, if ever, around here.
I will write soon about my experience of growing it where one winter it got to -26 degrees F., and returned with vigour! What's your average winter minimum?

I don't have any P.nuda at hand, but I will visit a grove at a friends soon.

Query...
When a (Phyllostachys) culm shoot rises, the main culm sheaths progressively become dettached, and drop off... As the side branches splay open and unfurl, they also have similar but much smaller `branch leaf sheaths' which drop off as the leaves on the branches open up. I'm pretty sure that these smaller sheaths don't contain oral setae.

Now, your picture is not of these sheaths that drop off, but is part of the leaf structure that remains attached as part of the leaf, till it sheds, when replaced with new leaves in the following years....
So... could the leaf sheaths that McClure was referring to be the ones that soon drop off, and is your pic the same thing or another part?

On Phyllostachys ID'ing...
- When bamboos are a small/immature size, their various characteristics can look quite different to mature plants, making ID'ing more difficult.
Often leaf parts on smaller plants are a much larger size then leaves on a mature plant.

Kurt, hurray!, I finally figured out how to use our new scanner... those pics are 10 to 15 years old photos... I haven't been back there for 9 yrs. Yup it's a private grove, sort of near Easton, to respect the owners privacy ... I will add some text to the pics and write a follow up post...
Thanks to you both for joining, and glad to hear if anything here can be of use to you This site is still very much in the beginning stages of a long time work in progress. With this in mind, the site has a pretty much laid back, take it easy approach, though for the sake of our visiting readership, which is a very large and ever growing, important part of our site, Off-topic portions of text (like my above), will be edited out, eventually, or moved elsewhere.
Cheers,
Mark

[Leptomorph]

I'm in zone 4b with average annual minimum temp of -20° to -25° F tho the past several years haven't been that low. This winter's low (I hope) occurred on Jan 23rd at around -11F. Another reason I question this plant's identity is that it got top-killed eventho I planted it last spring.

I brought a small division inside to overwinter in case my outdoor one gets killed. Attached is a photo from a branch and another from a leaf sheath I stripped off. You can see the pseudopetiole attached to the sheath and what appears to be an auricle.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/566/thumbs/P_leaf_pseudopetiole.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1213&cat=566) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/566/thumbs/P_branch.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1214&cat=566)

Anyway, hopefully I'll get some shoots to photograph this spring.

[Mark Meckes]

Lepto... Brrr it's ccccold at your place! Excellent pics! will copy to your gallery if they turn out to be the `real thing'.
Maybe the `greenhouse warming effect' will benefit your bamboo.
In my previous post I was referring to the leaf sheaths shown in this pic, still encasing the leaf-branches, which will drop off when the new leaves unfurl.
They don't have oral-setae.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_NE_PA_USA-5.jpg
Side branches of new shoot (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=912) Photo taken June 1992, Pocono Mts NE Pennsylvania.
New shoots side branches splaying open, preparing to leaf-out.
Note some of the detached culm sheaths pulled off by splaying side branches.

Top growth survival of Phyllostachy nuda isn't always assured, even at -10 oF, as there are many other factors that come into play... Wind chill, placement in micro-climates, spring warming, then cold spells... ah, those March winds can have a deleterious effect on awakening new leaf buds... Tis one of the consequences of bamboo's near surface rhizomes... if the weather warms too soon, juices start circulating, then with a cold snap... Zapped buds.
As a grove gets larger, it takes longer to warm the sub-soil which can be an advantage. Added mulch works too (watch out for voles, If you have em, they love to over-winter in the mulch, and eat new shoot buds)
The big plus about P.nuda is the vigor of it's rhizomes. If you can get the rhizome system well established, even with complete die-back, your bamboo can still produce new shoots that can annually reach 10-15ft height.

Breakage from snow/ice storms can be a problem...
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_NE_PA_USA-6.jpg
Breakage from snow-load (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=913) Photo taken April 1994, Pocono Mt NE Pennsylvania.
After an excrutiatingly cold winter, with a low of -26 degrees F.
High snowfall ( I stopped measuring at 5 ft) protected many culms from winter-dieback, and they re-leafed in spring, though in this pic, the culms were broken by the weight of the snow.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_NE_PA_USA-7.jpg
Complete new regrowth (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=914) Photo taken 10th June 1994, Pocono Mts NE Pennsylvania.
Showing complete new regrowth after harsh winter and multiple stem breakage.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_Easton_PA_USA-15.jpg
After harsh winter (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=923) Photo taken April 30, 1994 Pocono Mts Pennsylvania
Phyllostachys nuda, background, Ph. flexuosa foreground. (planted 5years)
Despite record-breaking cold winter, the last years culms re-leafed because these culms were under cover of deep snow (and didn't break) during the coldest months.

Mark

[Mark Meckes]

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_Easton_PA_USA-11.jpg
Phyllostachys nuda (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=918) Photo taken Nov. 1990, near Easton Pennsylvania, USA
This portion of the grove is Phyllostachys nuda, with an equal area planted to the right of picture, (not shown), being Phyllostachys aureosulcata.
It had been planted (12 healthy divisions of each species), about 6 years prior to this picture being taken, on the downward sloping surface of the banks of this manmade, bulldozer-dug, spring-fed pond.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_Easton_PA_USA-12.jpg
After a harsh winter (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=919) Photo taken April, 1994, near Easton, Pennsylvania
The other side of the grove. (see next pic for road-side view)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_Easton_PA_USA-14.jpg
Roadside view (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=921) Photo taken April 1994 near Easton PA.
Phyllostachys nuda (and Phyllostachys aureosulcata, (foreground).
This is a long rectangular approx 25ft X 250+ft grove with a L-shaped turn at the end. The long narrow portion of the grove slopes up an embankment to a spring-fed pond, which it receives adequate moisture from.
An unseasonably cold winter (with -20 degrees F for a period of several days which for the first time since planting killed all the tops of the culms.

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_Easton_PA_USA-13.jpg
New shoots (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=922) Photo taken June 1992, near Easton Pennsylvania,
Phyllostachys nuda, foreground/Ph. aureosulcata, other end.
Complete flush of new growth after all previous years culms were removed after record-breaking winter.
Will show `clear-cut' harvesting pics in another thread sometime.

Yes, even in somewhat ideal growing conditions, bamboo can suffer a severe setback from drastic weather changes, however regeneration is quick, with only 2-3 years needed before the bamboo is back to it's former self.

Mark

[Leptomorph]

That sure is some impressive growth! There may be hope for me yet. :)

In your photo showing new branches splaying out, wouldn't those sheaths be considered culm sheaths? Afterall, the sheaths are being pulled off the main culm. I thought leaf sheaths are like the one in the photo I uploaded.

Anyway, thanks for posting the great pictures. I'll have to pay closer attention to what happens with leaves, sheaths, and auricles this spring.

[Mark Meckes]

In your photo showing new branches splaying out, wouldn't those sheaths be considered culm sheaths? Afterall, the sheaths are being pulled off the main culm.
Yes, the sheath shown being pulled off by the opening side branch is a culm sheath.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Phyllostachys_nuda_NE_PA_USA-5.jpg
Side branches of new shoot (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=912)
..but the side branches shown are also wrapped in much smaller sheaths, still yet to come off in the pic.


I thought leaf sheaths are like the one in the photo I uploaded.

Me too, but I am not academically qualified, hehe :)

... and your post about this curious leaf sheath/oral setae culmundron reminded me of seeing these smaller (branch/leaf) sheaths drop off.

Mark

[Mark Meckes]

Ah ha! I found the book..
The Bamboos - F.A. McClure
Page 63:
"Taxonomists and anatomists frequently fail to identify for the reader the axis, or point of origin, of the sheath whose features are being described. Too often this structure is referred to indiscriminately either as a "leaf" or a "sheath".
For clarity, the following types of sheath found in the bamboo should be differentiated:
Culm sheaths, branch sheaths, leaf sheaths, rhizome sheaths, neck sheaths, and prophylla.
The last named are often referred to ambiguously as bracts, or bracteoles, or bud scales."

Pg 69:
Branch sheaths (what I was referring to in previous post)
"The series of sheaths clothing each branch of the culm recapitulates, on a reduced scale, that clothing the culm..."

Leaf sheaths (like the photo you posted)
"The sheaths that clothe the distal nodes of all culms, and of branches of all orders, are properly called leaf sheaths. Their blades, called leaf blades, or simply leaves, are the principal source of elaborated food. The sheath of a foliage leaf is distinguished from other kinds of sheaths by having a petiolate (stalked) blade...." (Fig.35, Page 64... See attachment below)

----------
Well Leptomorph, if no one else writes in to verify or dispute lack of leaf sheath oral setae on Ph.nuda, I'll take a ride out to a nuda grove and check it out.

Mark

[Leptomorph]

Thanks! That does get to the heart of the ID issue. If you do get a photo of an actual nuda leaf sheath, that would be great. So far I've only had 1 grower out of 4 tell me that nuda leaf sheaths have no setae.

BTW, The scanner makes a pretty good camera. That's how I got the photo of the leaf sheath.

[Dave_L]

Out of my two nuda, one does have leaf sheath oral setae the other does not.
I was also wondering about this.
One came from a local nursery in 2004 (single green leaf) the other was a mail order division planted last year.

[Leptomorph]

Dave, those are interesting. Have you noticed any differences in winter hardiness between the two? Thanks.

[Dave_L]

Typo, the local plant was 2003 not 2004.
I think it's too early to tell.
Sofar the temperature only dropped to -3F.
2003 nuda has a lot of burnt leaf tips but is still mostly green.
The division had all the leaves die above the snow level and The top 3' of a 6' culm.

[Mark Meckes]

Interesting, the leaf sheath pics that you both uploaded show oral setae attached to lobe-like auricles...
These are very similar in appearance to the culm/sheath auricles and oral setae of Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow Groove Bamboo)
See Phyllostsachys aureosulcata pics in Gallery Bamboo Flora (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=520)

Nuda and Yellow Groove grow well together, because they have about the same growth habit and look very attractive together with their contrasting culm characteristics.
They are of the earliest Phyllostsachys shoots to emerge (usually beginning around the first week in May, (NE PA/Pocono Mts/ elevation near 2000ft). Shoots came up 2 weeks earlier further southeast near Easton PA)

I grew them separately, and let them mix where they wanted to grow.
They seemed to me to be about equal in cold hardiness.
When I moved from PA a few years ago, I never took any bamboo plants to Texas with me.
We are growing other bamboo species here.

Mark

[Mark Meckes]

Photos taken March 20th '05 - Central Texas USA
These Phyllostachys nuda leaves definitely don't show any oral setae on their sheaths.
(Thanks to Stan Skov who provided the leaves to photograph. He searched far and wide in his (8 year old) Phyllostachys nuda grove with nary an oral setae to be found.
True, these leaves are from late winter growth, and oral setae can easily break off, but ...
Will show new growth pics soon.
Mark
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Pnuda_leaf:sheath_SK050320-884.jpg
Phyllostachys nuda leaf sheath see photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=968)
http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/1Pnuda_leaf:sheath_SK050320-883.jpg
Phyllostachys nuda leaf sheath see photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=967)

[Leptomorph]

Thanks! Great pictures. I think then I need to go in search of the real McCoy nuda. I have some P.n. 'Localis' ordered and hoping this one will be less likely to be mixed up, but who knows. Will be interested to see the new growth pictures too. --Mike

[Mark Meckes]

Phyllostachy nuda `Localis'
From the ABS Source List... "Similar, internodes at the base blotched, spotted or striped purple. Blotches show at 6-12 months"

When I heard about this species I thought for sure someone had consumed too much loco weed. LOL
Reason being that irregular darkened blotches were a normal occurance on my nuda. I knew my plants came directly from the original introduction into this country. As far as I can tell, there was only one plant introduction into the USA - PI#103938, and all Phyllostachys nuda that we now have came from that original division.
Edit: There was another introduction - PI#215494, but it's history, whereabouts or existence is unknown.
I have no idea when it last flowered, and whether any viable seedlings and variants were grown.

My guess is that this blotching is caused by none other then frost burn.
The shoots appear early, and in cool climates the shoots will tolerate some night-time freezing temperatures. However as the lower basal culm sheaths drop off first, they are most likely to get some freeze burn.
Also as shown by some of the uploaded shoot pics, Phyllostachy nuda culms can appear very dark colored initially, gradually changing to a lighter but deep green color, and I don't know if this is because of cold temps, translocation of nutrients or what.

Okay, now that I have said all this, having never seen for my own eyes, a specimen of the touted P. nuda`Localis', I will be happily corrected.

Mark

[Leptomorph]

My luck it won't even be nuda. Funny, it costs extra too for this "rare" form. I see (on the web) that in Europe there's also a nuda form called parvifolia. Well, I'll post some photos when I get the plant, whatever it is.

[Mark Meckes]

> I see (on the web) that in Europe there's also a nuda form called parvifolia.

It appears we have a long way to go to understand the intricacies of bamboo, and there's bound to be many variations discovered.
And then there's genetic manipulations that scientist might employ.
I was talking to a scientist years ago how said one day we may put the gene of a flounder in bamboo to increase it's cold-hardiness!

Here's a thread started to discuss Phyllostachys parvifolia (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1138)

[Mark Meckes]

Hi, an interesting observation noticed by Bamboofount was that young tillering sprouts of Phyllostachys aurea leaf sheath produced oral setae copiously, whereas 1 year and older culm leaf sheaths did not produce oral setae. See this post (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3029&postcount=2)

This makes me wonder if tillering (reactionary sprouts from divided rhizomes) of Phyllostachys nuda produce leaf sheath oral setae ???

Mark

[Leptomorph]

McClure's states that P. aurea has "leaf sheaths with auricles and oral setae well developed or often lacking entirely."

I received 2 more P. nuda from 2 different sources and both have leaf sheath setae. Either nuda truly is not nude or it is a very mixed up species in the nursery trade.

[Leptomorph]

I'm finally getting some new foliage on my alleged P. nuda. I buried last year's culms under straw during Jan-Feb but most died. These new "2nd generation" leaves still have oral setae. There may be less, but it's difficult to tell since there is only a foot or so of culm to look at. I'm wondering if anyone can post pictures of leaves from P. nuda: leaves from new tillering shoots and leaves from last year's culms.

Anyway, I have a few new shoots so maybe this plant will build up more strength this summer.

Thanks, Mike.

[Mark Meckes]

Hi,
Did you take any pics of your new shoots?

Regarding whether small shoots and tillering sprouts of P.nuda have oral setae on their culm/leaf sheaths ... I checked at my friend Stan's nuda in April and his grove only had larger new shoots - no small tillering suckers.
So I asked Noah from Bamboo Garden Nursery (http://www.bamboogarden.com) in Oregan if he could check their smaller containerized P.nuda. and this was his reply ...
----------
Occasionally, very small (barley even a whisper) of oral setae on our one gallon through 5 gallon P. nuda.
Does this mean they are not P. nuda?
No. Phyllostachys nuda "Almost nude ". ;) - Noah
----------
Several more pics have been added to the
Phyllostachys nuda gallery (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showgallery.php?cat=511)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/PnudaSkvTX050412-035.jpg See photo ( http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1202) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/PnudaSkvTX050412-043.jpg See photo ( http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1203) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/PnudaSkvTX050412-038.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1204)

http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/PnudaSkvTX050412-039.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1205) http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/data/511/thumbs/PnudaSkvTX050412-040.jpg See photo (http://www.bamboocraft.net/bamboo/showphoto.php?photo=1206)

[Mark Meckes]

See continuation at New Thread: Is this Phyllostachys nuda? (http://www.bamboocraft.net/forums/showthread.php?t=1424)

Previous posts from this above discussion are being left here to retain the integrity of this very interesting thread.

Thanks Mike! er, Leptomorph
Will continue discussion at your new thread.

Mark