Page 1 of 2
Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 3:52 am
by mr.mike
Just wondering out loud. ABS lists B. polymorpha @ 65' tall & 6" dia.
Rainforest Bamboo lists it the same as the ABS.
Tropical Bamboo lists it @ 30' & 2" dia.
Now, I understand that climatic differences occur but this seems a bit drastic. Anybody out there have one of these plants? I'd like to know who's correct on this one before I add it to the collection.
Thanks
Mike.
RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:55 pm
by boonut
I would give Jim a call at RainForest Bamboos and ask him about the history of this one. I know he regularly imports bamboo from Australia and seem to remember several conversations related to the identity of the different bamboos labeled "polymorpha".
I also know that Tropical Bamboo has been trading with Jim within the last two years and so it may just be very simple in terms of what is correct or at least you can get better details about the one you buy.
I have found there is no guarantee on ID... so the best you can do is get the history of the one you are buying and then make your own decision.
RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 2:09 am
by mr.mike
Thanks Allen. Good Idea. I seem to be noticing more and more bamboo varieties showing up with the same names and very different "size" statistics. After a while it gets a bit confusing. I think that over time, it's going to happen more and more with the influx of new bamboos into the country. It's a double edged sword as far as I can tell. We love the new boo but are we really getting what "they" say we're getting. Oh well, I'm sure it'll all come out in the wash eventually.
Thanks again.
mike
RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:03 am
by boonut
Another one I am excited about is Bambusa Nana. I know this one came from Jim Rehor. I have seen pictures of it in Thailand. Very nice boo with thin leaves. NOT the multiplex you read about so often.
I have one of those. I will let you know how it grows.
Re: RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:04 am
by Bamboo Conne'isseur
boonut wrote:Another one I am excited about is Bambusa Nana. I know this one came from Jim Rehor. I have seen pictures of it in Thailand. Very nice boo with thin leaves. NOT the multiplex you read about so often.
I have one of those. I will let you know how it grows.
That is one I have been wondering about. Its got very nice looking culms, and the small leaves are nice. Your the first person I can recall talking about this one. Do you have any more info about it?
RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:12 pm
by Roy
Bambusa sp. 'Nana' definitely doesn't look like a multiplex in the culms and clump stance.(1st picture). Leaves do like somewhat in size to multiplex. (2nd picture). I would definitely like to see the backside of one of the leaves to see if the coloration was similar to the bluish color of multiplex leaves (backside of the leaf).

RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 3:40 pm
by boonut
Definitely does not have any bluish tint to backside of leaves. There must be another boo out there with the name "nana" that might be a multiplex.
RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:29 pm
by Bamboo Conne'isseur
Does anyone know anything about the max. size, and what it goes for?
I think this one comes close to what I am looking for, which is a giant with very small fine leaves. What would really be nice is something like the Parker's giant, or Quail clone, but with masses of very small fine leaves.
RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:33 pm
by boonut
Bambos is a giant with fairly small leaves. Do ya' like thorns?
Re: RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:35 pm
by Roy
Bamboo Conne'isseur wrote:Does anyone know anything about the max. size, and what it goes for?
I think this one comes close to what I am looking for, which is a giant with very small fine leaves. What would really be nice is something like the Parker's giant, or Quail clone, but with masses of very small fine leaves.
I think Harry Simmons at:
http://www.bambooresearch.com/
bambooresearch@bambooresearch.com
might be able to help you with that question.
RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:36 pm
by Bamboo Conne'isseur
I don't mind them. Especially if I plant one by my bedroom window, and some knucklehead trying to break in gets a good shot, and thinks twice

RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 5:41 pm
by Bamboo Conne'isseur
Roy wrote:Bamboo Conne'isseur wrote:Does anyone know anything about the max. size, and what it goes for?
I think this one comes close to what I am looking for, which is a giant with very small fine leaves. What would really be nice is something like the Parker's giant, or Quail clone, but with masses of very small fine leaves.
I think Harry Simmons at:
http://www.bambooresearch.com/
bambooresearch@bambooresearch.com
might be able to help you with that question.
Thanks for the link Roy.
Re: RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 7:38 pm
by mantis
boonut wrote:Bambos is a giant with fairly small leaves. Do ya' like thorns?
After seeing your Bambos in person I scratched that one off the list of boos to plant in my small yard.

RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:42 am
by mr.mike
If I recall correctly, somewhere in the recent past I read that the "Nana" bamboo had flowered and no body was selling any. I think it was sometime last summer because i was trying to find some for sale but couldn't get any. I really like the look of that plant. Large culms, small leaves, light green, almost iridescent green. It just doesn't get much better than that for me. I'll try to find out who said it had flowered. (I think it was Jim Rehor but not sure).
Mike
Re: RE: Bambusa polymorpha confusion
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 3:04 am
by Roy
mr.mike wrote:If I recall correctly, somewhere in the recent past I read that the "Nana" bamboo had flowered and no body was selling any. I think it was sometime last summer because i was trying to find some for sale but couldn't get any. I really like the look of that plant. Large culms, small leaves, light green, almost iridescent green. It just doesn't get much better than that for me. I'll try to find out who said it had flowered. (I think it was Jim Rehor but not sure).
Mike
The best I can remember, it was Harry Simmons who told me it had been flowering in Asia. I believe this is one on the pictures he supplied. The picture shows the plant in flower.
