BAMBOOS ::; 79 



sparingly and only in exceptionally favourable districts, 

 as for example on the west coast. The finest of the 

 hardy species is Bambusa palmata, a handsome species, 

 attaining a height of five feet, and having large leaves. 

 B. pygmxa and B. tessellata are two dwarf species, with 

 comparatively large leaves, but not sufficiently attractive 

 for planting where room for a small selection only can 

 be found. 



PHYLLOSTACHYS. The species belonging to this 

 genus include some of the most ornamental of the 

 bamboos, and a selection should be made from them for 

 the smallest of gardens. Phyllostachys aurea is an elegant 

 species with erect stems rising under favourable con- 

 ditions to a height of fourteen or fifteen feet. P. 

 Boryana, a handsome and robust species, quickly forming 

 large specimens. P. jlexuosa, an elegant species, with a 

 height of about eight feet, and of special value for small 

 gardens. P. Henonis, a handsome species, attaining a 

 height of seventeen or eighteen feet where the climate 

 and soil conditions are favourable to its full development. 

 This species is well-suited to planting in positions not 

 specially favourable to bamboos, as it suffers but little 

 from drought, and is perfectly hardy. P. mltis is per- 

 haps the tallest of all the hardy bamboos. In Japan it 

 grows to a height of fifty feet, and in this country the 

 growths have attained a height of twenty feet. P. mgra 

 merits special attention, for it quickly forms a large and 

 handsome specimen, the height ranging from fifteen to 

 eighteen feet. P. viridi-glaucescens has so much to recom- 

 mend it that it may be described as one of the most 

 desirable of the strong growing kinds. The much- 

 branched stems attain a height of about eighteen feet, 

 and the rich green leafage suffers less from exposure to 

 cold winds than is the case in the majority of the 

 bamboos. 



THAMNOCALAMUS. The species belonging to this 



