32 PACIFIC STATES FLORAL CONGRESS. 



coneri, and A. Nobilis, all from the Himalayan regions, are growing 

 instead in clumps, and never have runners. Among hardy bamboos 

 these are certainly the most desirable, having thin, slender stems grace- 

 fully arching under the weight of their feathery foliage, the most appro- 

 priate place for them being as isolated specimens on lawns. Many 

 more species of Arundinaria are known, some of them already intro- 

 duced in Europe, that we expect to possess in our gardens before long. 



The genus Phyllostachys, mostly belonging to northern China and 

 Japan, contributes a large number of species, among them the tallest- 

 growing of hardy bambops. All of them have runners, and are easily 

 recognized by having only three branchlets at each joint, the central one 

 much smaller, or often aborted altogether. Here belongs Ph. Viridi 

 Glaucescens, from northern China, by far the best of all hardy bamboos 

 for general purposes. This, if in good conditions, that is, in rich soil 

 and with plenty of water, will grow up to forty feet and have canes of 

 two inches diameter. It will spread very rapidly, and will keep well 

 its bright green color winter and summer. 



Ph. Mitis, from northern China also, is said to attain much larger 

 size, and not to run as much as the former. It has given very fine 

 results in southern France. With us it has never been a great success, 

 the plants that have been imported from Japan since many years, 

 generally failing to grow, for some unaccountable reason. 



The same may be said of the very odd Ph. Heterocycla, "kikko- 

 chiku" of the Japanese, which presents the knots at the base in a zigzag 

 fashion, very often represented in Japanese curiosities. 



Ph. Xigra will not reach quite the size of the two first named, but, if 

 liberally treated, will grow up to twenty feet, with canes over one inch in 

 diameter, that possess the most beautiful jet black color when thor- 

 oughly ripened. There is also a variety with canes curiously spotted 

 black and yellow, much esteemed by the Japanese, who are very fond 

 of making artificial imitations of it, 



Ph. Castillonis, from Japan, grows about the same style as the pre- 

 ceding, but has canes beautifully-striped yellow and green, its foliage 

 also being sparingly variegated with white. 



More humble and more stiff in its habit is Ph. Aurea, which was 

 probably the first bamboo introduced in this country. The canes of 

 this will never reach one inch; the nodes are very thickly set at the 

 base. Walking sticks and umbrella handles are made of it. 



Ph. Violascens, Ph. Henonis, Ph. Marliacea, and others are not yet 

 sufficiently tried here to be able to say much of them. Several more 

 cinds of these hardy bamboos remain to be introduced ; no doubt some 

 welcome acquisitions will be found among them. 



The genus Bambusa proper is represented in California by differ- 



