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Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 6:06 pm
by iain
I've just planted out a division that someone kindly gifted me. It was in a pot for a year and I must admit I didn't pay it much attention. I looked at it today and had to do a double take: a purple/black colouration has appeared on the newly emerged culms and leaf tips. What is it with this species and its ability to surprise? I guess that is why it has successfully spread throughout the world, bewitching homo sapien.

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 7:47 pm
by johnw
Iain - Can you clarify please? Is this the old F. dracocephala which has been renamed and is now F. apicirubens OR the new dracocephala 'Rufa' which was simply F. sp. 'Rufa' in the past?

Meanwhile lovely culms and I've not seen this on either or the two aforementioned species. Could it be caused by dry weather & sun hitting so few culms? I've never even seen this on outer culms of big clumps but then again 'Rufa' weeps enough to shade the culms.

To my eye this looks like a nitida...can you shoot a pic of emerging shoots?

johnw

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 9:48 pm
by Markj
Very rare to find the up to date names used here :oops:

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Mon May 22, 2017 11:06 pm
by iain
I don't have shots of emerging shoots unfortunately or info on names. The plant may have come from scottishbamboo.com. I checked it out and they describe their F. dracocephala "...an attractive plant owing to its culm which can turn red or reddish black when exposed to sun." I'm sorry not to be more helpful. We have had an exceptionally dry period but, as I'd just planted it out, it was well watered. It could well be enviromental as last year there weren't such markings on the new culms - I would have noticed!

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 1:33 pm
by johnw
Maybe wind-borne can offer his opinion on your Fargesia. Are there hairs on the sheaths like this 'dracocephala 'Rufa' I got at Kimmei or have they dropped already?

john

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 1:38 pm
by johnw
The former F. dracocephala now F. apicirubens has sheath hair to but are otherwise very distinctive.

john

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 3:09 pm
by iain
Would you believe, one sheath at the base has remnants.
IMG_9949.jpg

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 6:59 pm
by johnw
Okay, maybe others can comment as I don't have a picture of nitida's sheaths at hand.

john

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 9:06 am
by steffen
As John said, the first pics look more like nitida. I have never seen apicirubens (formerly known as dracocephala) with a dark red or black coloration, although I would not totally exclude this if the plant is stressed and/or in strong sunlight (without being used to it). However, the last pic with the remnants of hairs on the sheaths might be apicirubens. I attach a picture Jürgen Schmitz - who possibly holds the biggest collection of Fargesia in Germany or even Europe - took from his apicirubens. Apicirubens is a strong plant with characteristical shoots.
Steffen
apicirubens_juergen_small.jpg

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 11:03 am
by Tarzanus
I agree with steffen. They do get some tan, but it's more like a light red-brown than strong, almost black like on first photos. Also, the remaining sheath does not have that many hair, it should be fully covered.

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 11:44 am
by johnw
Maybe ChrisS can tell us if nitida ever has remnant sheath hairs, frankly I cannot recall.

Here are pix of shoots of apicirubens from 2-3 different ones I grew from seed back in about 1990 from Max Riedelsheimer ex Daba Shan.

john

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 12:37 pm
by steffen
Nitida...
20160807_155856_nitida.jpg
Steffen

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 2:25 pm
by Tarzanus
Could it be Fargesia denudata (one of its forms)? It does get a bit more colored in the sun exposed position, has similar leaves and is less hairy.

Do older culms turn into yellow color and do they show strong weeping nature? If you happen to know what the original plant from which you received a division looks like.

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 4:41 pm
by iain
Bang on the money - almost. The older culms turn a yellow/yellow-green and the original plant had a fan-shaped habit.
I do appreciate the contributions.
IMG_9976.jpg

Re: Fargesia dracocephala

Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 5:59 pm
by steffen
@ Tarzanus, certainly not denudata, foliage is totally different (all forms).
Steffen