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Bambusa oldhamii - Munro.

Common Name Ryoku-Chiku, Giant Timber Bamboo, Oldham's Bamboo
Family Poaceae or Gramineae
USDA hardiness 9-12
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Plains[ 266 ]
Range E. Asia - China, Taiwan.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Half Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Bambusa oldhamii Ryoku-Chiku, Giant Timber Bamboo, Oldham


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs
Bambusa oldhamii Ryoku-Chiku, Giant Timber Bamboo, Oldham
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stan_Shebs

 

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Summary

Bambusa oldhamii, otherwise known as Ryoku-Chiku, Giant Timber Bamboo or Oldham’s Bamboo, is a bamboo species found in Australia, China, Japan, Taiwan and USA. It grows up to 18 m tall with straight and upright culms. The shoots are edible.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Bambusa oldhamii is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 6 m (19ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Wind.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Shoots  Stem
Edible Uses:

Young shoots - cooked[183, 195].

References   More on Edible Uses

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

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Biomass  Fodder  Paper  Straw  Wood

The cane walls are thick but rather soft. The canes are used as a source of pulp[195].

Special Uses

Carbon Farming  Food Forest

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Fodder: Bank  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Managed Multistem  Minor Global Crop  Other Systems: Multistrata  Other Systems: Strip intercrop

Requires a humus rich soil in full sun or dappled shade in warm humid conditions[ 200 ]. Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually - these stems grow to their maximum height in their first year of growth, subsequent growth in the stem being limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. In the case of some mature tropical species the new stem could be as much as 30 metres tall, with daily increases in height of 30cm or more during their peak growth time. This makes them some of the fastest-growing species in the world[ K ]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[ 200 ]. Bamboos in general are usually monocarpic, living for many years before flowering, then flowering and seeding profusely for a period of 1 - 3 years before usually dying.

Carbon Farming

  • Fodder: Bank  Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
  • Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
  • Management: Managed Multistem  Regularly removing some multiple stems. A non-A non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.
  • Other Systems: Multistrata  Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.
  • Other Systems: Strip intercrop  Tree crops grown in rows with alternating annual crops.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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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. 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].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Bambusa oldhamii, otherwise known as Ryoku-Chiku, Giant Timber Bamboo or OldhamÕs Bamboo. Other Names: Lu zhu, Lu-chu, Ryoku-chiku.

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

FAustralia, China, Japan, Taiwan, USA.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Bambusa atraClumping Bamboo. Long pipe bamboo.Bamboo8.0 10-12 FLMHNMWe203
Bambusa bambosGiant Thorny BambooBamboo30.0 10-12 FMHSNM335
Bambusa blumeanaSpiny Bamboo. Spiny bamboo, Thorny bambooBamboo20.0 10-12 FMHNM203
Bambusa heterostachyaMalay Dwarf GreenBamboo8.0 10-12 FLMHSNM003
Bambusa multiplexHedge Bamboo, Chinese Goddess BambooBamboo4.5 8-11 FLMSNM203
Bambusa nutansNodding Bamboo, Mai bongBamboo12.0 9-10 FLMHSNM204
Bambusa odashimaeOdashimae BambooBamboo15.0 9-12 FLMHSNM400
Bambusa pervariabilisClumping BambooBamboo8.0 9-11 FLMHSNM304
Bambusa polymorphaBurmese bamboo, Jama BetuaBamboo12.0 9-12 FLMHSNM204
Bambusa textilisClumping Bamboo. Weaver's bambooBamboo8.0 7-11 FLMHSNM304
Bambusa tuldaBengal Bamboo. Spineless Indian bambooBamboo15.0 10-12 FLMHSNM204
Bambusa vulgarisCommon BambooBamboo20.0 9-12 FLMHSNM324
Chimonobambusa marmoreaKan-ChikuBamboo1.5 5-9 FLMHSNM103
Chimonobambusa pachystachysThorny BambooBamboo5.0 -  LMHSNM10 
Chimonobambusa purpurea Bamboo5.0 -  LMHSNM102
Chimonobambusa quadrangularisSquare BambooBamboo3.0 5-9  LMHSM203
Chimonobambusa szechuanensis Bamboo5.0 -  LMHFSNM103

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

Munro.

Botanical References

200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Readers comment

Eduardo Duarte   Fri Jun 20 2008

bambusa oldhamii I need find seeds

Michael (SW Ireland)   Wed Apr 22 2009

Does anyone know of a source for Bambusa oldhamii within the EU? The Bambouseraie Prafrance have them, but will not sell retail. I would be happy with a piece of rhizome.

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