Phyllostachys arcana

Botanical Description

Phyllostachys arcana is an evergreen bamboo that can grow around 8 metres tall; the erect, woody culms are around 30mm in diameter with thin-walled internodes around 20 - 30cm long. The rhizomes are elongated, the plant having a running habit that can produce new canes some distance from the main clump, especially in warm climates. This tendency to run, however, is somewhat curtailed in cooler climates, where new shoot production can be rather reduced. The plant is harvested from the wild and locally cultivated for use as a food and a source of materials.