Pleioblastus fortunei

Botanical Description

Pleioblastus fortunei is an evergreen bamboo that can grow 60 - 120cm tall; the erect, woody culms have a zigzag habit, they are 2 - 6mm in diameter with thin-walled internodes 10 - 30cm long. The rhizomes are elongated, the plant having a vigorously running habit that can produce new canes some distance from the main clump, especially in warm climates. The plant is grown as an ornamental, where it is used as a ground cover. Pleioblastus fortunei is abundant and often dominant in the forest understorey and tolerates abandoned and disturbed areas. It seems to be highly adaptable and resilient to stresses and occurs with several conservation units. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. A very aggressive spreading plant and very difficult to eradicate. It has escaped from cultivation and become naturalized in countries such as China and New Zealand[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. Very difficult to control, it even survives mowing[ 195 Title The Book of Bamboo Publication Author Farrelly. D. Publisher Sierra Club. Year 1984 ISBN 0-87156-825-X Description Very readable, giving lots of information on the uses of bamboos, both temperate and tropical. ].