Phyllostachys bambusoides?

[jtkach]

OK, here is another grove around the Charlotte, NC area that I need help identifying, I am pretty sure it is Bambusoides, but I am not positive. These are monsters. I cut one down that measured 67ft. tall and culms on the big ones are 4-5+" in diameter. The culm wall is fairly thick. They shoot in late May and early June. Here are the pics.

[Markj]

Yep- looks like bambusoides to me, although the culm sheath id should really be done from one at mid height, your pic of a shoot shows some good features of bambusoides. Well developed auricles, sheaths bordered by long cilia and the ligule is fimbrillated/fringed--although that coin is not in a good spot though

nice plant

[David]

jT,

I would have to agree with you and Markj. It's not vivax or henon, so the only other plant that I know of that grows that big in the southeast is bambusoides. And as Mark said it certainly has the characteristics of bambusoides.

I'm curious to know more about this grove; is it abandoned? Was the culm that you cut several years old, and if it was I'd love to have a 6ft piece for my bow making endeavors. Bambusoides makes an excellent bow backing material if it is 3 or 4 years old.

Do you by any chance know the age of the grove?

As Mark said it is a very nice plant!

David

[jtkach]

Thanks Mark and David for the feedback. I thought it was bambusoides but I wanted to get some other opinions. Yeah I was going a little coin crazy that day, but I needed something to give me a size reference and a quarter is what I had.

David that grove is in an abandoned lot in Charlotte. The current owner is the city of Charlotte. I do not have the culm I mentioned in my post. It was one of twelve a friend and I cut down to make poles for his tepee. The poles had to be 40 feet in length. He is still using them today 4 years after originally cutting them down. By the way that was a fun drive from the grove to my friend's house.

If you are interested I can easily get a few more culms. The grove is overgrown and has been around for a while it is approximately 150-200' deep by about 50' wide and the majority of the culms are probably anywhere from 2-3 inches in diameter and 40'+ tall. Just reply back to this if you are interested and we can figure away to get the materials to you.

[David]

jT,

I bet hauling 40 foot poles was a challenge. In my mind I see them tied over the top of a Honda civic with red flags on both ends!

Some of the older culms in the 4-5 in range would be ideal. Anything less than say 4 in has to much curve across the back, and presents stress issues for the bow limbs.

If there is anything that size left in the grove I would love to have a straight 6 foot piece with approximately equidistant internode lengths. No rush on my part so whenever it's convenient for you would be fine.

Thanks!

David

[jtkach]

David let me see what I can do. Any chance that you are going to be down in Byron GA this weekend for the SEC cleanup day. If so let me know and I can bring a few sections for you.

Luckily we were driving a 3/4 ton with an extended pipe rack up top. We had about 12' sticking over either end. To say the least we got some looks going down the road.