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Useful Temperate Plants

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis

(Franceschi) Makino

Poaceae

+ Synonyms

Arundinaria quadrangularis (Franceschi) Makino

Bambusa quadrangularis Franceschi

Phyllostachys quadrangularis (Franceschi) Rendle

Tetragonocalamus quadrangularis (Franceschi) Nakai

Common Name: Square Bamboo

No Image.

General Information

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis is an evergreen bamboo that can grow 3 - 8 metres tall; the erect, woody culms are 10 - 40mm in diameter with thin-walled internodes 8 - 20cm long[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. 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.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It is often grown as an ornamental, valued especially for the shape of its stems, and can be used to form a hedge or windbreak

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

58
Title
Flora of Japan. (English translation)
Publication
 
Author
Ohwi. G.
Publisher
Smithsonian Institution
Year
1965
ISBN
-
Description
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.
,
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.

Range

E. Asia - southeast China, Taiwan, Japan, northern Vietnam

Habitat

Forests.

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Bamboo
Height3.00 m
PollinatorsWind
Cultivation StatusOrnamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Chimonobambusa quadrangularis is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -15°c or lower when fully dormant, though the foliage is likely to be damaged at these temperatures[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
1865
Title
Illustrated Flora of Bambusoideae in China Volume 1
Publication
 
Author
J. Y. Shi et al
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8580-2
Publisher
Science Press and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd
Year
2020
ISBN
978-981-10-8580-2
Description
Detailed information on 351 species of Bamboos.
]. It grows best in areas with moderate to high rainfall levels and hot summers.
Bamboos generally grow best in a sunny or moderately sunny position in a well-drained, fertile, open loam of reasonable quality with plenty of moisture in the growing season[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
]. Especially when grown in areas close to the limits of their hardiness they require a position sheltered from cold or strong winds[
25
Title
Bamboos.
Publication
 
Author
Lawson.
Publisher
Faber
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
Fairly comprehensive, it was once the standard work but is now rather dated. Deals with species hardy in Britain, giving cultivation details and some uses.
].
The square bamboo is cultivated for its edible stems in China and Japan.
Chimonobambusa species, especially those originating from regions with very mild winters, will often produce their new stems towards the end of the summer, and this can lead to the stem having insufficient time to grow and mature before the winter if the plant is cultivated in areas with cold winters[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The rootstock of this species is running and often rampant in warm temperate regions, but it does not produce many new shoots and is not overly invasive when grown in areas near the limits of its hardiness[
195
Title
The Book of Bamboo
Publication
 
Author
Farrelly. D.
Publisher
Thames & Hudson; London
Year
1996
ISBN
0-500-27911-X
Description
Very readable, giving lots of information on the uses of bamboos, both temperate and tropical.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. The shoots are wide spaced and are produced from late May. Canes can be snapped off the plant. A plant at Trebah gardens in Cornwall had new shoots 3 metres long in mid-April 1995[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Temperate bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually -usually in the spring and early summer, and these stems grow to their maximum height in their first two to three months. Any subsequent growth in the stem in future years is limited to the production of new side branches and leaves.
Temperate bamboo species usually grow for many years without flowering. When they do finally flower it is not unusual for all the plants of that species in the region to also flower. They do so profusely over a period of 1 - 3 years and will often then die, probably from exhaustion. Some species, if given plenty of organic matter at this time will gradually recover, although they will look rather poorly for a year or three. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[
122
Title
The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980.
Publication
 
Author
?
Publisher
Royal Horticultural Society
Year
1979
ISBN
-
Description
Excerpts from the periodical giving cultivation details and other notes on some of the useful plants. A good article on the flowering of bamboos.
].
Bamboo species are usually notably resistant to honey fungus[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Edible Uses

Young shoots - cooked. An excellent relish. The canes are up to 25mm in diameter[
266
Title
Flora of China
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Publisher
Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
Year
1994
ISBN
 
Description
An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
,
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be grown as a hedge or screen[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].

Other Uses

The canes make good plant supports and are excellent material for handicrafts[
195
Title
The Book of Bamboo
Publication
 
Author
Farrelly. D.
Publisher
Thames & Hudson; London
Year
1996
ISBN
0-500-27911-X
Description
Very readable, giving lots of information on the uses of bamboos, both temperate and tropical.
].

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
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Basal cane cuttings.
Rhizome cuttings.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Chimonobambusa+quadrangularis>

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