Phyllostachys iridescens

Botanical Description

Phyllostachys iridescens is an evergreen bamboo that can grow 6 - 12 metres tall; the erect, woody culms are 40 - 70mm in diameter with thin-walled internodes 17 - 24cm 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 also cultivated for used as a food and a source of materials.