Mark Meckes
3rd September 2001, 05:27 AM
Why does Phyllostachys aurea have the characteristic, in which the internodes will ocassionally (and beautifully) distort ?
...Who knows ? What causes this ? Here's a theory...
During preliminary shoot formation (while the shoot is still underground), `sugars' (sometimes) form in excessive concentrations in different parts of the shoot, and begin to congeal, then crystalize.
This prevents the shoot from elongating at the internodes where the `sugars' are most concentrated, causing distortions.
However it is odd that segments like the nodal diaphragm are sometimes in the middle of the internode... a genetic glitch?
Here's some pictures of some recently harvested Phyllostachys aurea of about 1 1/2" (4cm) diameter...
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-243f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (1) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=733) - Sugars that have crystallized into a very hard woody consistency.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-244f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (2) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=734) - Wayward fiber bundle. It was one long strand prior to cutting the culm in half with a bandsaw.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-245f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (3a) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=735) Congealed sugars causing major distortions inside the internode.
Note that a nodal diaphragm has begun to form in the MIDDLE of the internode!
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-246f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (3b) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=736) - Close up of (3a)
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-247f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (4) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=737) - Congealed sugars preventing elongation of shoot. Note how the side of the culm that is free of the inner exudation is more elongated.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-248f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (5a) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=738) - Inner Culm wall has grown over crystallization
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-249f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (5b) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=739) - Indentation, from effects of photo(5a), showing up on outer culm wall.
Mark
...Who knows ? What causes this ? Here's a theory...
During preliminary shoot formation (while the shoot is still underground), `sugars' (sometimes) form in excessive concentrations in different parts of the shoot, and begin to congeal, then crystalize.
This prevents the shoot from elongating at the internodes where the `sugars' are most concentrated, causing distortions.
However it is odd that segments like the nodal diaphragm are sometimes in the middle of the internode... a genetic glitch?
Here's some pictures of some recently harvested Phyllostachys aurea of about 1 1/2" (4cm) diameter...
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-243f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (1) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=733) - Sugars that have crystallized into a very hard woody consistency.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-244f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (2) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=734) - Wayward fiber bundle. It was one long strand prior to cutting the culm in half with a bandsaw.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-245f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (3a) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=735) Congealed sugars causing major distortions inside the internode.
Note that a nodal diaphragm has begun to form in the MIDDLE of the internode!
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-246f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (3b) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=736) - Close up of (3a)
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-247f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (4) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=737) - Congealed sugars preventing elongation of shoot. Note how the side of the culm that is free of the inner exudation is more elongated.
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-248f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (5a) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=738) - Inner Culm wall has grown over crystallization
http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/data/2/thumbs/1Mvc-249f.jpg
Phyllostachys aurea (5b) (http://www.bamboocraft.net/workshop/showphoto.php?photo=739) - Indentation, from effects of photo(5a), showing up on outer culm wall.
Mark