Common Name:

General Information

Chimonocalamus longiusculus is an evergreen, clump-forming bamboo with short rhizomes and erect, woody stems around 4 - 6 metres tall. The stems are around 10 - 20mm in diameter, with a thick wall and internodes around 17cm long[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China (southeast Yunnan), northern India (Arunachal Pradesh)

Habitat

Evergreen broad-leaved forests; at elevations from 1,700 - 1,900 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	5.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Chimonocalamus species are native from low to moderate elevations in the moist subtropical regions of southern China, the eastern Himalayas, and northern regions of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. Whilst many of them experience occasional light to moderate frosts in their native environment, none of them are very cold-tolerant. They can generally be grown outdoors in areas with very mild winters and with at least moderate levels of rainfall.
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[]. They require a position sheltered from cold or strong winds[].
Most species in this genus produce delicious edible bamboo shoots, and are known as 'xiang zhu', meaning 'fragrant bamboo'[].
The stems contain an aromatic liquid. When cut and split, the bamboo stem retains a strong, sweet aroma for about a week[].
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 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[].
Bamboo species are usually notably resistant to honey fungus[].

Edible Uses

Young shoots, harvested as they emerge from the soil[]. We have no further specific information, but most species in this genus produce delicious bamboo shoots[].

The internodes of the stem contain around 25 - 50ml of a sweet, aromatic liquid that is nice for drinking[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The stems are robust and are used for construction[].

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[].
Basal cane cuttings.