10 Chocolate Bamboo 13 Alphonse Karr Bamboo Borinda fungosa Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’ Considered an open clumper, Native to China, this species is also this bamboo is one of the most known as ‘Cheena Bata’ (Chinese dramatic of all weeping-form bamboo) in Sri Lanka. It makes an bamboos. It can reach a height of excellent ornamental and container approximately 20 feet. A native plant. The juvenile, magenta-colored of Yunnan, China at elevations culms distinguishes it from other between 6,000 to 9,000 feet. Bambusa multiplex variants. This plant is named after Jean-Baptist Alphonse Karr, a French horticulturist, critic, journalist, novelist, and When exposed to sufficient sunlight the culm turns a FUN FACT pamphleteer of the 19th century. reddish-brown; hence, the common name ‘chocolate FUN FACT bamboo’. The culm strips are also used for weaving. 14 Mei Nung Bamboo Dendrocalamus latiflorus cv.‘Mei Nung’ 11 Silverstripe Bamboo This large Taiwanese bamboo grows Bambusa multiplex ‘Silverstripe’ to approximately 65 feet with culm diameters of 8 inches. It’s a clumping A classic multiplex in its leaf bamboo with lime-green culms and structure, the name ‘Silverstripe’ dark-green stripes. Emerging shoots are refers to the silverish-white striping edible. It is found naturally growing from on the leaf. Sometimes, only an Taiwan into southern China. occasional single stripe can be found on the culm. All bamboos are a type of grass belonging to the family Poaceae, which also includes rice, wheat, FUN FACT and sugar cane. Most smaller Bambusa multiplex make good container plants, if circumstances are suitable. They also can be FUN FACT grown as indoor plants with correct lighting. 15 Striped Running Timber Bamboo Phyllostachys bambusoides ‘Castillon’ Native throughout Asia, this is one of the least invasive species of running bamboo. An attractive ornamental with 12 Fernleaf Bamboo smooth, yellow culms, it has dark green Bambusa multiplex ‘Fernleaf’ stripes in a groove, called a sulcus, along the culm’s length. A non-invasive clumping bamboo, it grows to approximately 10 to 15 feet. A very attractive bamboo, its uniquely delicate leaves are fern- A sulcus is the groove a bud produces by pushing into the like in appearance. It is appreciated soft, new culm as the plant elongates in height. This is a FUN as an impressive soft screen or as a FACT prominent feature of the Phyllostachys genus. hedge and can be sheared as such. Made possible through the generosity of In areas where deer are a nuisance to plants, The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation this species is preferred as a short, thick, deer- FUN FACT resistant hedge. sandiegozoo.org Bamboo the numbers to the plant ID signs. The tour beginsMatch in the Lost Forest near tigers, continues past 4 Rough Bamboo 7 Big-leaved Bamboo the hippos, then up Park Way towards pandas. Dendrocalamus asper Indocalamus tessellatus Painted Bamboo This giant, tropical/subtropical bamboo, The dark-green, oblong leaves of 1 Bambusa vulgaris ‘Vittata’ native to Southeast Asia and India, can this species are the largest of the grow to 100 feet tall with culms 8 to bamboos. They can measure up With its vibrant colors, this large, 10 inches in diameter. The emerging to 25 inches long and 5 inches tropical bamboo is especially prized shoots are favored as an edible wide, yet it only reaches heights as an ornamental in its native China. vegetable, while mature culms are used of 4 to 7 feet. It is a small running Although its emerging shoots have as cooking vessels, musical instruments, bamboo native to the Yangtze a high cyanide content, they are still beehives, and other useful items. River, China. consumed after being boiled—the boiled water is then used medicinally. Bamboo may be the fastest growing plant on Earth. One The large leaves of this plant are used for species has been reported to grow up to 35 inches per steaming and wrapping food in Asian cuisine. FUN FUN In biology, vitatta is the Latin term used to FACT day—that’s about 1.5 inches per hour. FACT FUN describe a stripe or band of color. FACT 2 Buddha Belly Bamboo 5 Beechy Bamboo 8 Umbrella Bamboo Bambusa ventricosa Bambusa beecheyana Fargesia murieliae This bamboo is native to Vietnam, Another native of the Guandong Damp, cool forest woodlands Guangdong Province in southern Province in southern China. Its are where this spectacular China, and along the coast of variable, arching pattern reaches ornamental bamboo thrives. Its southern China. Often used in up to 50 feet with a culm diameter range is from East Asia to Central bonsai, its attractiveness is in the of about 5 inches. Maturing culms China, West Sichuan, Guizhu, and swollen nodes and dark green usually have a white powder on Shaanxi Provinces at elevations culms. It is also a natural browse or them, and tender young shoots are up to 10,000 feet. This species is food source for livestock. eaten by animals and humans. important panda food in China. The characteristically swollen nodes—induced by stress or This species has a lower water requirement than most In the United States, this species is grown as an breeding—earn it the common name Buddha belly bamboo. other types of bamboo, making it a good choice for ornamental. In Asia, it is harvested for paper and food, and FUN Without the mutation, this plant grows upright and tall, and is FUN FUN FACT FACT water-wise landscaping. FACT the culms are sometimes used to make farming tools. then known as common bamboo. 3 Silver Stripe Blowgun Bamboo 6 Arrow Bamboo 9 Black Bamboo Bambusa dolichomerithalla Pseudosasa japonica Phyllostachys nigra Native to Taiwan, this clumping Also known as metake, this species was This popular and attractive type bamboo is characterized by growing introduced into France from its native of bamboo grows in many forms, in a tight bunch, with dark-green Japan in the 1850s. In the 1860s, it made varying in size and coloration. Some culms marked by silver-white stripes. its way to the United States—one of the are less invasive than other running The arching 35- to 40-inch culms first ornamental Asian bamboos to be bamboos. It is excellent in a contained make this an excellent choice as a grown here. Less aggressive than other environment, in a garden, or as a privacy screen plant. running bamboos, this type makes a good potted plant. This special bamboo background screen or container plant. ranges across eastern and central Asia. After being introduced into the southeast United States, The straighter culms have been used as blowpipes, Japanese Samurai honed their skills by using this species of this genus was used by Thomas Edison to start his light FUN and others are used as cooking vessels. FUN bamboo for arrows due to its stiffness and straightness. FUN bulb factory by using filaments produced from pieces FACT FACT FACT of the culm. 10 Chocolate Bamboo 13 Alphonse Karr Bamboo Borinda fungosa Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’ Considered an open clumper, Native to China, this species is also this bamboo is one of the most known as ‘Cheena Bata’ (Chinese dramatic of all weeping-form bamboo) in Sri Lanka. It makes an bamboos. It can reach a height of excellent ornamental and container approximately 20 feet. A native plant. The juvenile, magenta-colored of Yunnan, China at elevations culms distinguishes it from other between 6,000 to 9,000 feet. Bambusa multiplex variants. This plant is named after Jean-Baptist Alphonse Karr, a French horticulturist, critic, journalist, novelist, and When exposed to sufficient sunlight the culm turns a FUN FACT pamphleteer of the 19th century. reddish-brown; hence, the common name ‘chocolate FUN FACT bamboo’. The culm strips are also used for weaving. 14 Mei Nung Bamboo Dendrocalamus latiflorus cv.‘Mei Nung’ 11 Silverstripe Bamboo This large Taiwanese bamboo grows Bambusa multiplex ‘Silverstripe’ to approximately 65 feet with culm diameters of 8 inches. It’s a clumping A classic multiplex in its leaf bamboo with lime-green culms and structure, the name ‘Silverstripe’ dark-green stripes. Emerging shoots are refers to the silverish-white striping edible. It is found naturally growing from on the leaf. Sometimes, only an Taiwan into southern China. occasional single stripe can be found on the culm. All bamboos are a type of grass belonging to the family Poaceae, which also includes rice, wheat, FUN FACT and sugar cane. Most smaller Bambusa multiplex make good container plants, if circumstances are suitable. They also can be FUN FACT grown as indoor plants with correct lighting. 15 Striped Running Timber Bamboo Phyllostachys bambusoides ‘Castillon’ Native throughout Asia, this is one of the least invasive species of running bamboo. An attractive ornamental with 12 Fernleaf Bamboo smooth, yellow culms, it has dark green Bambusa multiplex ‘Fernleaf’ stripes in a groove, called a sulcus, along the culm’s length. A non-invasive clumping bamboo, it grows to approximately 10 to 15 feet. A very attractive bamboo, its uniquely delicate leaves are fern- A sulcus is the groove a bud produces by pushing into the like in appearance. It is appreciated soft, new culm as the plant elongates in height. This is a FUN as an impressive soft screen or as a FACT prominent feature of the Phyllostachys genus. hedge and can be sheared as such. Made possible through the generosity of In areas where deer are a nuisance to plants, The Daphne Seybolt Culpeper Memorial Foundation this species is preferred as a short, thick, deer- FUN FACT resistant hedge. sandiegozoo.org Bamboo.