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Phyllostachys nigra - (Lodd. ex Lindl.)Munro.

Common Name

Black Bamboo

Family

Gramineae

Synonyms

Bambusa nigra.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Fertile and moist places, also by streams[147]. In open forests, on slopes or in valleys at elevations of 1100 - 1200 metres[266].

Range

E. Asia - E. and C. China.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics
An evergreen Bamboo growing to 7.5 m (24ft) by 6 m (19ft). It is hardy to zone 7. It is in leaf 12-Jan. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Wind. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils..It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland).It requires moist soil.

Habitats
Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Stem.

Young shoots - cooked[25, 46, 105, 177]. Somewhat acrid when raw[61], they are prepared for eating by boiling in one change of water, the water being changed after 8 - 10 minutes[183]. A distinctive taste and aroma[183]. The shoots, which are about 5cm in diameter[266], are harvested in the spring when they are about 8cm above the ground, cutting them about 5cm below soil level.

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.

Antiemetic; Antitussive; Astringent; Depurative; Diuretic; Expectorant; Febrifuge; Sedative; Styptic.

The leaves are antipyretic and diuretic[218]. They are used internally in the treatment of fevers (especially infantile convulsions), vomiting and nosebleeds[238]. The leave are harvested during the growing season and dried for later use[238]. The juice of the stems is antipyretic, antitussive, expectorant and sedative[147, 176, 218]. It is taken internally in the treatment of lung infections with cough and phlegm[238]. The sap is pressed from young stems in the summer and then dried for later use[238]. The epidermis of the stem bark is antiemetic, depurative and sedative[147, 176, 218]. It is used internally in the treatment of vomiting, nosebleeds, coughs etc[238]. The epidermis is collected from young stems in the summer and is dried for later use[238]. The root is astringent, antipyretic, diuretic and styptic[147, 176, 218]. It has been used in the treatment of rabies[238]. The roots are harvested in the winter and dried for later use[238].

Other Uses
Basketry; Plant support; Wood. The canes make good plant supports. Thin walled but durable, the canes are also used for cabinet work and for decorative panels and inlays[195]. The rhizome is used in making umbrella handles, wickerwork, canes, musical instruments and various kinds of handicrafts[25, 74].

Cultivation details

Requires a rich damp soil in a sheltered sunny position[200, 238] and plenty of moisture in the growing season[1]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -7°c, but it dislikes prolonged exposure to hard frosts[200]. Another report says that it is hardy to about -18°c[195]. A very ornamental plant[1]. There are many named forms of this species, some of them are given specific status by some botanists[11, 200]. These forms include 'Boryana', 'Fulva', 'Henonis' and 'Punctata'. It is the form 'Henonis' that is normally used medicinally in China[176]. 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]. This is a good companion species to grow in a woodland because the plants are shallow rooted and do not compete with deep rooted trees[195]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. The plant has a running rootstock, though not aggressively so in the cooler climate of Britain[200]. and it produces new shoots from May[25]. Cultivated for its edible young shoots in China[61]. This species has been widely planted for ornament in the Mediterranean and is becoming established[50]. The ssp. P. nigra boryana and P. nigra henonis are also mentioned for their edible young shoots, they are both cultivated for their edible shoots which are similar in all respects to P. nigra. Dead stems can be removed at any time of the year[238]. It is also possible to thin the clumps in spring, leaving only the strongest stems and thus creating an open grove-like effect[238].

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. Divisions from the open ground do not transplant well, so will need careful treatment and nurturing under cover in pots until at least late spring[238]. Division is best carried out in wet weather and small divisions will establish better than large clumps[238]. Another report says that you can take large divisions from established clumps and transfer them straight to their permanent positions, misting or drenching them frequently until they are established[200]. Basal cane cuttings in spring.

Expert comment

Author
(Lodd. ex Lindl.)Munro.

Botanical References
11200266

Links / References

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[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.

[50]? Flora Europaea

An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. 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.

[74]Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR.

An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers.

[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.

[147]? A Barefoot Doctors Manual.

A very readable herbal from China, combining some modern methods with traditional chinese methods.

[176]Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas.

An excellent Chinese herbal giving information on over 500 species. Rather technical and probably best suited to the more accomplished user of herbs.

[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.

An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[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.

[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.

[218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China

Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.

A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[266] Flora of China

On-line version of the Flora - an excellent resource giving basic info on habitat and some uses.

Readers comment

Elizabeth H.
besenkar	Sat Nov 3 2007

Bambu Fidanlýðý Bambu hakkýnda bilgiler, bambooturkey

Elizabeth H.
	Wed May 14 2008

I was given a bamboo that is dark brown and is being grown in a one gallon pot. new shoots are coming ang growing to approximately 4' to 5' Can they repotted this tim eof the year? Thanks Luis

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