Bambusa multiplex Hedge Bamboo PFAF Plant Database

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Bambusa multiplex - (Lour.)Raeusch. ex Schult.&Schult.f.

Common Name

Hedge Bamboo

Family

Poaceae or Gramineae

Synonyms

B. argentea. B. glaucescens. B. nana. Leleba multiplex.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Open places at elevations of 200 - 1500 metres in Nepal[272].

Range

E. Asia - Eastern Himalayas to southern China.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Bambusa multiplex is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 4.5 m (14ft) by 5 m (16ft).
It is hardy to zone 9. It is in leaf 12-Jan. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind.

Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:KENPEI

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Habitats
Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Hedge;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Stem. Edible Uses: Young shoots - cooked[46, 105]. Bitter tasting, they are rarely eaten[195]. They are less bitter if harvested before they emerge from the soil and then parboiled in water[183].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses

Hedge; Hedge; Paper; Weaving.

Paper is made from the culms[46, 61]. The canes are too arched for good poles and there is too small a volume for significant pulp production, in spite of good fibre dimensions[195]. The culms are up to 4cm in diameter[220]. The canes split easily and are fairly flexible - they are used as a source of weaving material for mats, baskets and other household goods[220, 272]. The plant makes a good screen or hedge[188, 200].

Cultivation details

Prefers an open loam of fair quality, succeeding on peaty soils and in full sun or dappled shade[11, 200]. Requires a position sheltered from cold drying winds[11]. Requires abundant moisture in the growing season and plenty of organic matter in the soil[11]. A fairly hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -8°c[25, 195], but it does not like periods of prolonged cold. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. Plants only flower at intervals of many years. When they do come into flower most of the plants energies are directed into producing seed and consequently the plant is severely weakened. They sometimes die after flowering, but if left alone they will usually recover though they will look very poorly for a few years. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[122]. New shoots appear in late spring, the rootstock is caespitose[25]. A polymorphic species, there are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[25, 195].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 20°c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3 - 6 months. Grow on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Seed is rarely available. Division in spring as new growth commences[220]. Take divisions with at least three canes in the clump, trying to cause as little root disturbance to the main plant as possible. Grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse in pots of a high fertility sandy medium. Mist the foliage regularly until plants are established. Plant them out into their permanent positions when a good root system has developed, which can take a year or more[200]. Branches often develop into rhizomatous offsets with long roots. These can be removed and potted up in late spring[220].

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Expert comment

Author
(Lour.)Raeusch. ex Schult.&Schult.f.

Botanical References
11200266

Links / References

[11]Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.

A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[25]Lawson. Bamboos.

Fairly comprehensive, it was once the standard work but is now rather dated. Deals with species hardy in Britain, giving cultivation details and some uses.

[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.

An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[61]Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.

Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.

The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[122]? The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980.

Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants. A good article on the flowering of bamboos.

[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.

Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[188]Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers

Excellent range of photographs, some cultivation details but very little information on plant uses.

[195]Farrelly. D. The Book of Bamboo

Very readable, giving lots of information on the uses of bamboos, both temperate and tropical.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[220]Stapleton. C. Bamboos of Nepal

An excelllent little booklet that looks in some detail at the native bamboos of Nepal, including looking at their uses.

[272]Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal

Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.

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