Bambusa Vulgaris Schrad

Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced)

‘Ohe, common bamboo this species is composed of slender branches bearing 1 bracted clusters of 3Ð15 or more stalkless spikelets ⁄2Ð 3 Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl. ⁄4 inch (13Ð19 mm) long, oblong and pointed, each with 3 several to many flowers (florets) about ⁄8 inch (10 mm) Grass family (Gramineae) long. The flower has two narrow scales, six stamens with purple protruding anthers, and pistil, producing an ob- Post-Cook introduction long grain. Not divided into bark and wood, the stem is hollow Bamboos are giant introduced evergreen grasses with except at nodes, lightweight, hard, and strong. The very 1 clustered jointed hollow stems and feathery foliage. In hard outer wall is about ⁄2 inch (13 mm) thick, whitish size, they may be classed as trees, though they grow in brown, and fibrous. clumps of several stems, like many shrubs. Their large A new stem completes its height growth from the treelike size and usefulness justify their inclusion here. clustered roots at base in about 3 months, elongating This common species was one of the first introduced very rapidly, up to 8 inches (20 cm) daily. Nor does it bamboos and is one of the largest established in Hawaii. expand in diameter after formation. The description here is from the Puerto Rican tree hand- The young growing shoot at the outside of a clump book. Neal (1965, p. 60Ð64) published information about is readily distinguished by the absence of branches and bamboos with a key to eight genera. by the presence at each node or joint of a large leaf with It is difficult to distinguish between some of the dif- by the presence at each node or joint of a large leaf with ferent species, as the flowers needed for positive identi- triangular spreading blade. These clasping leaves along fication are rarely produced. However, as a group, bam- the main axis have a very large gray green sheath 6Ð12 boos are easily recognized by (1) clusters of several to inches (15Ð30 cm) long, extending nearly to the next many slender, tapering, slightly curved stems, in the node and bearing many brown needlelike hairs that stick species of largest size, 2Ð4 inches (5Ð10 cm) in diam- in the flesh when touched, and a short triangular pointed eter, dark green to orange, with swollen rings or joints yellow green blade 2Ð3 inches (5Ð7.5 cm) long and 8Ð18 inches (20Ð46 cm) apart; (2) several very slender broad, also with a few brown hairs. Toward the apex of branches spreading horizontally and regularly at the the elongating stem the leaves are closer together and joints; and (3) grass leaves in two rows, consisting of a overlapping. basal sheath around the slender twig and long-pointed Bamboos of this and other species have many uses blade with many lateral veins parallel to midrib. besides ornament. Their masses of intertwining roots and The stems (culms) attain 30Ð50 ft (9Ð15 m) in height accumulations of leaf litter check erosion on roadside and toward the top diverge from the center. The smooth banks and slopes. Poles of various kinds for construc- surface, green to dark green, becomes orange or yellow tion, fences, fenceposts, ladders, tool handles, flagpoles, in age. From a distance the plants appear like clumps of and stakes are easily made from bamboo. The stems will 1 giant ferns. The slender side branches about ⁄4 inch (6 serve as temporary water pipes after opening them on mm) in diameter are nearly horizontal and bear wirelike one side at each node and removing the partitions. Short yellow green twigs. Spines are absent in this species. pieces are used as pots for seedlings to be transplanted 1 1 The light green leaf sheaths are 1 ⁄2Ð2 ⁄2 inches (4Ð6 later. Bamboo boards can be prepared by slitting, split- cm) long, closely fitting the twig. Blades are 6-10 inches ting, and spreading open the stems. The split pieces are 3 3 (15Ð25 cm) long and ⁄4Ð1 ⁄4 inches (2Ð4.5 cm) wide, or woven into baskets. Bamboo stems have been utilized as short as 2 inches (5 cm) at base of twig, with rough in the manufacture of various articles, including furni- edges, long-pointed at apex and short-pointed where ture, lattices, fishing rods, picture frames, lampshades, narrowed and jointed into sheath. The upper surface of mats, and flower vases. This species is suitable for pa- the flat thin blade is green and slightly shiny, the lower per pulp because the stems have relatively long wood surface pale blue green. fibers. Large bamboos bloom only once. After many years, With outer scales removed, the tender growing tips many plants growing together flower simultaneously, of bamboo shoots can be eaten by boiling for about a produce seeds, and then die. Like most other grasses, half hour and changing the water once or twice to re- bamboos have inconspicuous flowers, usually light move any bitter taste. There is no distinct flavor except brown or straw-colored. The flower cluster (panicle) of for a slight suggestion of young corn. Bamboo shoots

‘Ohe, common bamboo Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. ex Wendl. Plants (left), much reduced; leafy twig (right, 1 X (P.R. v. 1).

This information is from Agriculture Handbook no. 679 by Elbert L. Little Jr. and Roger G. Skolmen, published by the Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, in 1989. Its present format is that of a reprint version published by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2003. Common Forest Trees of Hawaii (Native and Introduced) are added to meat stews, salads, and other ways. Young infrequent production of seed. The plant is considered shoots are gathered under stands in the forest by all eth- noxious by foresters in Hawaii because it takes over and nic groups in Hawaii, even though such use had its ori- shades out all other vegetation in the wet gulches where gin in China and Japan. it grows best. Fortunately, entire clones will flower and This species of bamboo was introduced into Hawaii die periodically, affording an opportunity for other veg- probably from China in the early part of the 19th cen- etation to recapture the bamboo stands. tury, according to Hillebrand. He observed that Hawai- ians used bamboo for fishing poles and outriggers for Special areas canoes. The Hawaiians, however, introduced and used Waimea Arboretum, Wahiawa another species, Schizostachyum glaucifolium (Rupr.) Munro. It has thin-walled culm with long internodes and Range was used primarily to make musical instruments such Native of tropical Asia, perhaps India, but widely planted as nose flutes. Neal mentioned additional products made through the tropics. Common in Puerto Rico and Virgin by the Hawaiians. Bamboo was used for fans, mats, bel- Islands and grown also in southern Florida. lows, straight edges, knives, and pens and stamps for marking tapa bark cloth. Elsewhere, many other uses Other common names have been developed, such as construction of houses and feathery bamboo; bamb’u (Puerto Rico, Spanish); pi’ao manufacture of tools. palao’an (Guam) Through the Hawaiian Islands, this bamboo is cultivated commonly as an ornamental and soil binder along Golden bamboo (var. aureo-variegata Beadle) is a roadsides and streams and grows as if wild. Bamboo handsome ornamental variety characterized by varie- has been planted in large stands in the forest, particu- gated stems with yellow and green vertical stripes. larly on Oahu and Maui. A typical stand is near Reser- This is one of the most widely cultivated bamboos voir No. 3 in Nuuanu Valley on Oahu. Others may be in tropical and subtropical regions through the world, seen from the Hana Road on Maui. Natural vegetative because of its feathery foliage and large size. It is easily propagation by breaking and rooting of the fragile short propagated by division of clumps and stem cuttings. This branches has been observed elsewhere. However, nor- species will endure light frosts but usually is killed to mal establishment of seedlings is rare because of very the ground by an infrequent freeze at 28°F (Ð2°C).