Unknown #5 in St. Louis

[Alan_L]

I don't know why I didn't take a photo of the branches and foliage, but probably because I couldn't take my eyes off of the amazing bluish clums. They're more blue and powdery-looking in person than the photo shows. This one is really beautiful! My guess is Phyllostachys glauca based on the blueness alone, but I've never seen glauca of this size so not sure.

[Alan_L]

I've got some shoot photos now. I don't think it's Phy. glauca anymore.

[needmore]

Interesting, very interesting...those shoots do not look like anything I have but vaguely resemble a couple I have. It is either something I don't have - which would be awesome - or it is something I have that looks different as it is older and in different site conditions.

In the second shoot photo blurred to the left, is that a compressed node? Can you describe the branching habit of the plant, particularly do they run almost stiffly horizontal?

I won't hazard a guess at this point but be prepared for me to start negotiations for a large piece of it

[moriphen]

Phyllostachys mannii 'Decora'

http://www.shweeashbamboo.com/Bamboo%20Gallery.htm

M

[Alan_L]

I thought maybe 'Decora' too (saw that same photo), but when looking at more posted 'Decora' shoot photos here, they seem to have a lighter color overall where these shoots are darker and green.

Also, does 'Decora' have glaucous culms? These have a rough, powdery blue/gray coating to the culms. Oldest culms seem to have lost the coating somewhat -- are smoother and more olive green.

I will say that this is the most striking bamboo in Mike's collection.

[Alan_L]

Interesting, very interesting...In the second shoot photo blurred to the left, is that a compressed node? Can you describe the branching habit of the plant, particularly do they run almost stiffly horizontal?

I guess when you have a dial-up connection you get to study each photo closely as they load , because you're right about the compressed node. I didn't notice it before, but went back to my original set of photos and there it is, right in the center!

I'm not sure about the branching pattern because you have to stand pretty close to the plant because of some large pines. Will focus on that next time I go back.

If it indeed turns out to be something you don't have Brad I'm sure Mike would part with some of it, but it may not be this year. He's got it rhizome pruned to about a 5' diameter circle, and has expanded the allotted space for the plant so it's an oval now -- I'm not sure if the expanded area has any rhizomes in it yet. I didn't see any shoots there. (I'll be getting a division of it sometime too.)

[needmore]

Overall the shoot & older culms remind me of 2 species I have that I continue to think must be very closely realted due to their similarities. The main difference is that your shoot leaves are much more colorful than I've yet to see on mine but that could be site conditions and age.

Heteroclada solidstem is one of the 2 and will have the occasional compressed node just like your photo, they make great walking sticks but mine has yet to produce any of them and is too small still. I have it in a shady site and honeysuckle is trying to envelop it so it lags behind in development. The straightstem form could also be a possibility but mine has been painfully slow to put on any size so it is hard to compare. The 3rd member of the clan, the purpurata is a zone 7a bamboo and I do not believe would get that size in our area.

Stimulosa is the other and they look identical. Both will have heavy powder but I do not recall the blue ring under the node, I'll look for it though.

One characteristic of both is strongly horizontal branching. I believe that you said some of these plants originally came from the Turtles and mine did as well. I have essentially everything he has so I suspect I have this one already and these 2 are the current leading candidates. I recall Adam Turtle telling me his crew hated working in the Heteroclada groves as the branches are the worst to try and walk through.


I have always found the Stimulosa shoots to be some of the prettiest even on a younger plant, here is mine 2 years ago. They start out sort of non-descript green but quickly take on cocoa overtones and then the powder starts to show.

[philippe smets]

on the bamboos french forum, we have been trying to help you ...


http://lesbambous.fr/forum/identificati ... t5158.html


Eric thought it could be a ph propinqua



we just wanted to ask you if there is any sulcus on the culms of this boo ?

[Alan_L]

Yes, there is a sulcus. I would say it's pretty certain it's a Phyllostachys of some kind.

He's been growing this plant for 20 years or more -- has propinqua been in the US that long?

[David]

Alan,

My first thought was propinqua as well. Here are pics of 2010 shoots. I obtained this plant 4 years ago from Byron, GA USDA research station. McClure brought propinqua into the states in 1933.

[Alan_L]

Mike did say he got some of his plants from the Byron station, so I guess it's possible.

Notice the elongated culm leaf blades at the tip in your photos -- this plant didn't have that. Perhaps it will once the shoots get taller, but they're already 2-3' tall.

Does propinqua have blue/gray culms though?

[needmore]

I have a piece of David's Propinqua from Byron and if that is correct then 'your' plant will have the canoe curled foliage leaves to look for.

[philippe smets]

johnbonsai on the french forum has suggested phyllostachys virella,

[David]

Virella is extremely rare in the States so I doubt that is the ID, but anything is possible. Do you have a shoot photo?

[needmore]

I'm going to remain ignorant of the facts until they come in and lean towards Heteroclada Solidstem.