I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

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MalOorBamboes
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Location: Pretoria, South Africa

I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

Post by MalOorBamboes »

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! :P

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... :mrgreen: :smilebox:
Attachments
BT_3.JPG
Typical clump. Grows in association with Leucosidea sericea ("Ouhout") [Afr. "Old Wood"]
Typical clump. Grows in association with Leucosidea sericea ("Ouhout") [Afr. "Old Wood"]
Halfway up the mountain. Lovely infestation of pines.
Halfway up the mountain. Lovely infestation of pines.
MalOorBamboes
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Location: Pretoria, South Africa

Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

Post by MalOorBamboes »

More photos
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I love the mountains...
I love the mountains...
Sorry about bad focus.
Sorry about bad focus.
johnw
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Bamboo Society Membership: EBS - Germany
Location: HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA

Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

Post by johnw »

What sort of low temperatures would that bergbamboo experience there?
johnw coastal Nova Scotia
MalOorBamboes
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Location: Pretoria, South Africa

Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

Post by MalOorBamboes »

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) .
Cooper12
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Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

Post by Cooper12 »

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
MalOorBamboes
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Location: Pretoria, South Africa

Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

Post by MalOorBamboes »

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)
Cooper12
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Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

Post by Cooper12 »

Both Knipofia and Grewia are here already . I have enough pines myself :mrgreen: was just curious
Jason Floyd
Hangtown Farms

Emmett Idaho
Zone 7A
Potato country
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Paul Ont
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Location: Sydenham, Ontario, Canada

Re: I found Bergbambos tessellata growing in the wild!

Post by Paul Ont »

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!
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