Phyllostachys edulis

Rhizomes

Phyllostachys edulis has thin rhizomes with a monopodial (running) growth habit. Therefore, the culms grow in scattered state and can be invasive as they spread over a large distance.

Shoots

New shoots are very susceptible to frost damage.

Culms

The culms of Phyllostachys edulis are on average 18 m tall and 11 cm in diameter at breast height (DBH), but can grow up to 23 m tall and 18 cm in diameter.

Culms are velvety gray-green when young, becoming deep green and yellow-green to almost orange-green when maturing. The culms are covered with very fine, soft hairs, which provide protection from insect predation.

Phyllostachys edulis is distinguished by thickened and relatively short internodes toward the base and strongly tapered culms. The culm internodes are thin-walled, on average between 35-50 cm long, and separated by prominent marked ring-like sheath scars on the nodes.

Culm sheaths of Phyllostachys edulis are yellow-brown or purple-brown with dark brown spots, and covered with densely brown hairs.

Branches

2 branches at the nodes with 1 slightly larger dominant branch.

Leaves

Phyllostachys edulis leaves are quite small when compared to the stature of this bamboo, the short and narrow, paper-thin leaves, are 8-10 cm long and 8-10 mm wide, pale green on their upper surface and matte green beneath.

Flowering

Flowers and seeds appear about once every 67 years. Phyllostachys edulis usually flowers sporadically instead of gregariously (synchronous blooming of all species at the same time).

Most bamboo plants use so much energy in the flowering/fruiting that they die shortly thereafter, however, with Moso bamboo this is not always the case. 

Habitat

Moso bamboo grows naturally in a subtropical monsoon climate zone, which means warm and rainy in the summer, and cold and dry in the winter.

The mean annual temperature varies from 15 to 21°C with a mean temperature of the coldest month between 1 to 12°C. Moso bamboo can withstand temperatures of -18°C.

The annual precipitation is between 800 to 1800 mm and a relative humidity of over 80%.

Phyllostachys edulis usually occurs at altitudes between 100 and 700 m and occasionally up to 1,000 m altitude. Suitable soils include well drained acidic, neutral purple, yellow soil, and reddish yellow soil.

Cultivation

Although Phyllostachys edulis is cold-resistant to some degree, its most appropriate environment is a warm humid climate with vague distinction between wet and dry seasons.

In warm conditions and fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained soils, moso bamboo can spread aggressively to the point of being invasive, wheras it remains almost static in cool temperate climates.

A grove can be formed after about 5 years, but it will take about 10 years to establish a grove with 10 to 12 cm culm diameter from a planted seedling.

A hectare of Moso bamboo forest can produce 6 to 10 t/yr fresh culms, 5 to 8 t/yr bamboo shoots. The optimal density of Moso forest is 4,000 culms/ha for timber production and 2,500 culms/ha for bamboo shoot production. The harvest age depends on its use; 7 years old for timber; 4 years for pulp and paper.

Uses

Moso bamboo is grown in large plantations and harvested for a variety of products including timber, fencing, furniture, construction material, paper pulp, plywood, flooring, musical instruments, utensils and rayon for the textile industry.

It is also the most commonly grown species of bamboo in Asia for harvest of its edible shoots which are eaten locally and/or canned for export.

Several factories are also producing bamboo beer, a beverage made from Moso bamboo juice. Bamboo charcoal is used for food, dyes and medical industries.

Origin

Phyllostachys edulis originates from to deciduous woodlands in China and Taiwan, and was introduced into Japan in 1736, Europe in 1880 and the United States in about 1890. Now, more than 50,000 ha of Moso bamboo forest grows in Japan where it is widely cultivated and distributed south of Hokkaido.

It is the most important bamboo species in China and the third most important plant species for timber production next to Pinus massoniana and Cunninghamia lanceolata (“Chinese Fir”). There are 4.2 million ha of bamboo forest and Moso bamboo alone covers about 3 million ha which is about 2% of the total Chinese forest area. In the past 30 years Moso bamboo forest resource has doubled.