South Africa has a single native bamboo species, Bergbambos tessellata (Afr. "Mountain Bamboo")
Since it is so endangered (SA is an ecological nightmare) and since I've only seen it once in an old private collection (guy didn't even know what it was) I wondered if it was still growing in the wild. A previous location confirmed ~7 years ago has sadly been destroyed.
I've found it growing next to a remote little stream after climbing a crazy pass, yay!
SA is a dry country (we get only ~460mm av. per year) so its suitable climate is limited to where it is really constantly moist. Veldfires and overgrazing by introduced goats limit it further.
I'm a very happy camper for now...
I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!
Moderator: needmore
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:51 am
- Location info: 0
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:51 am
- Location info: 0
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
-
- Posts: 1617
- Joined: Sun May 06, 2012 1:28 pm
- Location info: 0
- Bamboo Society Membership: EBS - Germany
- Location: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!
What sort of low temperatures would that bergbamboo experience there?
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:51 am
- Location info: 0
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!
Little town close to the mountain touches about -12C (10F) some winters, so I'd guess on top it could go down to -17C (1.4F), but average min for coldest months in town is 0C (32F) .
-
- Posts: 411
- Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:38 am
- Location info: 0
- Bamboo Society Membership: ABS - America
- Location: Emmett Idaho
Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!
wow I am in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California . That one would love it here. Do you know what Kind of Pines those are and what small flowering shrubs are native to the region?
Jason Floyd
Hangtown Farms
Emmett Idaho
Zone 7A
Potato country
Hangtown Farms
Emmett Idaho
Zone 7A
Potato country
-
- Posts: 13
- Joined: Thu Feb 06, 2014 11:51 am
- Location info: 0
- Location: Pretoria, South Africa
Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!
Probably Pinus Pinaster. Trust me, you don't want them invading. Oozes flammable resin so fires get out of control easily.
Native flowering plants:
Brunsvigia radulosa [Got amazing seedheads] http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/brunsvigrad.htm
Kniphofia caulescens [If you have enough water] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/9751/Knip ... ns/Details
Grewia occidentalis http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/grewiaoccident.htm
etc.
But please be careful introducing South African species elsewhere. They don't have a good track record (e.g. Sersia Lancea == African Sumac)
Native flowering plants:
Brunsvigia radulosa [Got amazing seedheads] http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/brunsvigrad.htm
Kniphofia caulescens [If you have enough water] https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/9751/Knip ... ns/Details
Grewia occidentalis http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/grewiaoccident.htm
etc.
But please be careful introducing South African species elsewhere. They don't have a good track record (e.g. Sersia Lancea == African Sumac)
-
- Posts: 411
- Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2015 3:38 am
- Location info: 0
- Bamboo Society Membership: ABS - America
- Location: Emmett Idaho
Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!
Both Knipofia and Grewia are here already . I have enough pines myself was just curious
Jason Floyd
Hangtown Farms
Emmett Idaho
Zone 7A
Potato country
Hangtown Farms
Emmett Idaho
Zone 7A
Potato country
- Paul Ont
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Fri Mar 12, 2010 5:00 pm
- Location info: 0
- Location: Sydenham, Ontario, Canada
Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!
Awesome stuff! The mountains, minus the close up pictures of the plants, look a lot like the interior mountains in British Columbia, Canada.
Always interested in the rare plant stuff, thanks for posting it!
Always interested in the rare plant stuff, thanks for posting it!