Phyllostachys reticulata
(Rupr.) K. Koch
Hardy timber bamboo, Japanese timber bamboo, Giant timber bamboo, K'u chu, Ma dake
(c) Alberto Colatore, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Alberto Colatore
kusa-to-uo
(c) Hectonichus, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
(c) Emily Summerbell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Emily Summerbell
What to Eat
Edible parts: Shoots
Both madake and Phyllostachys edulis (known in Japanese as moso) are used in the making of shakuhachi flutes The hairless and flexible sheaths of madake - known as takekawa or takenokawa - make it apt for wrapping food, and in the production of baren woodblock printing tools. The uniform, plain-colour sheaths of the variety kashirodake were traditionally used to weave the coverings of some geta, a covering known as tatami omote; however, in modern times, the variety used is a different and unknown species, grown in China and bleached to be plain in colour. The long internodes and equally long fibres of the bamboo make it ideal for traditional basket-weaving and the production of fans. Historically, madake was used to create relatively durable carbon filaments in early incandescent light bulbs. The Edison Electric Light Company used madake from Yawata for about fifteen years.
Where to Find It
It is a warm temperate plant.
Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan,
How to Identify
A bamboo. It grows 20 m tall. The culms are 15 cm across. The internodes are 40 cm long. There are 2-4 leaves on the last branch. The leaf blades are 6-15 cm long by 2-3 cm wide.
Names & Synonyms
References (2)
- http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/sorting/Bamboos_Edible.html
- World Checklist of Useful Plant Species 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
