![]() This species also can be found in Korea, Taiwan, and of course in the warmer parts of mainland China, where it is native. While it favors moist sites, it is commonly seen clinging to steep hillsides, sometimes falling prey to landslides during the summer monsoon. Its preferred habitat is on or near low hills in warm temperate regions that have been disturbed by human activity, for instance near rice fields and in Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica) and hinoki cypress ( Chamaecyparis obtusa) plantations. This massive bamboo can be found throughout the warmer parts of Japan, from Hokkaido’s southernmost islands, across Honshu in warmer and lower elevations, throughout Shikoku and Kyushu, and onto the Nansei Island chain. It is said that seed production is poor in Japan, with some flowerings producing no viable seed at all. I have never seen large areas of moso dying back for any reason, but then again, I cannot remember having ever seen them in flower either. ![]() Rather, an odd patch of culms will flower here and there. The old idea that bamboo dies en mass after flowering does not seem to hold with this species. One has to remember this is indeed a grass, not a woody plant.įlowering cycles are not predictable, and occur only rarely, perhaps every 50 to 100 years. It will never get any taller or thicker however since its anatomy has no means to do this. Remarkably, the culm is fully grown within 5-6 weeks and will begin to harden off, a process that takes more than one growing season. These sheaths cover the developing culm as it rockets upward, but just as quickly are shed, starting from the bottom most segments, revealing the new blue-green culm underneath. The emerging shoots are covered in alternating, hairy dark brown sheaths that are tipped with green, leaf-like projections. They hang from graceful arching branches. It is well documented that this species is one of the fastest growing plants in the world, having been “clocked” at 1.2 meters of growth in just one day! The leaves of Phyllostachys edulis are paper thin, small, and numerous. ![]() At first they grow slowly, but once they attain a height of 1 m or so, they rocket into growth, literally. New growth shoots break ground in spring once the average air temperature reaches 18-20 C, usually in mid to late April in southern Japan. The white roots too, are numerous and strong. These rhizomes are stolon-like, extending in all directions, thus making this a “running bamboo” species. On moister sites it is not uncommon to see them growing along the surface of the ground here and there. The culms originate from underground shoots that are born off a highly complex mat of segmented rhizomes that tend to grow fairly shallow in the substrate, typically not more than a half meter deep. Branching on the old culms becomes more intricate over time, hence more and more leaves are held by any given culm as they age, thus increasing their beauty and photosynthetic potential. The bright green, new leaves on the old culms grow quickly and are fully developed by June. In Japan they turn yellow all at once in May and are shed in time with new culm formation. The paper thin leaves are plentiful and last one growing season, each usually 4-10 cm in length and less than 2 cm in width. Culms fully mature within two seasons growth and can last up to 12 years. The uppermost nodes have one or more side branches that in turn bear the numerous elegant, small leaves. The culms are not tapered, but rather columnar in structure, only tapering near their apex. Like other bamboos, the nodes on the culm are very easy to see, forming a segmented stem that is hollow inside except at the node itself. Impressive stands of this giant bamboo are common place in the warmer parts of Japan. Moso growing along a mountain path in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan. Being a “giant” or “timber” bamboo, culm diameter can be impressive, up to 20 cm, but as little as 8 cm in weaker culms. Phyllostachys edulis is a large growing bamboo with stems (called culms) routinely attaining heights of 15 meters or more, indeed reports of culms approaching even 30 meters exist in its most favored habitats. Regardless of these facts, moso remains the most important timber bamboo in the world, and has a central role in Japan’s traditional culture, ranging from construction material to food. If that weren’t enough, being in truth a very large grass, moso cannot be considered a tree either, despite its arboreal size. Moso bamboo ( Phyllostachys edulis), another Japanese icon, shares their fate. The odd thing is that neither of these species is native to Japan, but rather are imports from China. Japan is home to many iconic plants, for example the Japanese plum tree ( Prunus mume), and the red spider lily ( Lycoris radiata).
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