Phyllostachys glauca
McClure
Fen lu zhu, Yunzhu Bamboo
(c) Anikó Csecserits, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
(c) Anikó Csecserits, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Anikó Csecserits
What to Eat
Edible parts: Shoots
The young shoots can be eaten raw or cooked and are relatively free of bitterness and bite even when raw. They are harvested as they emerge through the soil in spring, when about 8cm above ground, cut approximately 5cm below soil level. Shoots are 2–5cm in diameter.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant. In Yunnan.
Asia, China,
How to Identify
A bamboo. It grows 5-12 m tall. The stems are 2-5 cm across. The internodes are 40 cm long. There are 2 or 3 leaves on the last branch. The leaf blade is 7-16 cm long by 2-3 cm wide.
How to Grow
Requires a rich damp soil in a sheltered position. Plants are fairly hardy, but they dislike prolonged exposure to hard frosts. This is a good companion species to grow in a woodland because the plants are shallow rooted and do not compete with deep rooted trees. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus. Plants only flower at intervals of many years. When they do come into flower most of the plants energies are directed into producing seed and consequently the plant is severely weakened. They sometimes die after flowering, but if left alone they will usually recover though they will look very poorly for a few years. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die.
Propagation: Surface sow fresh seed in a greenhouse at around 20°C, keeping the compost consistently moist. Germination is usually fairly quick with good-quality seed, though it may take 3–6 months. Grow seedlings in light shade under glass until large enough to plant out. Seed is rarely available. Divide clumps in spring as new growth begins — divisions from open ground transplant poorly and should be potted and kept under cover until at least late spring. Carry out division during wet weather; small divisions establish more reliably than large clumps. Alternatively, large divisions can be lifted and moved directly to their permanent positions if misted or drenched frequently until established. Basal cane cuttings can also be taken in spring.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
The internodes of the canes are straight and unribbed, making them easy to split. The culms are used to make a variety of utensils, as well as for weaving, furniture, containers, handicrafts, handles for agricultural implements, and shed construction.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Phyllostachys glauca is a species of bamboo found in Anhui, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Yunnan, Zhejiang provinces of China.
Other Information
It is cultivated.
Names & Synonyms
Dan zhu, Fen lu zhu, Zhusun
References (4)
- Crawford, M., 2012, How to grow Perennial Vegetables. Green Books. p 75
- Geng, Y., et al, 2016, Traditional knowledge and its transmission of wild edibles used by the Naxi in Baidi Village, northwest Yunnan province. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine. 12:10
- http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/sorting/Bamboos_Edible.html
- Wiersema, J. H. & Leon, B., 2013, World Economic Plants. A Standard Reference CRC Press. 2nd Ed. p 522
