ARUNDINARIA 217 



Native of Japan; introduced .by Von Siebold in 1850, and for long 

 the only bamboo commonly grown in British gardens. It is a very hardy 

 and accommodating species, and a handsome evergreen, having larger leaves 

 than any other bamboo of its height and character we can grow outside. 

 It does not spread quickly by underground suckers, but maintains a rather 

 tufted habit. It flowered in Europe between 1872 and 1874. 



A. MARMOREA, Makino. KAN-CHIKU. 



(A. Kokantsik, Kurz ; Bambusa marmorea, Mitford.*) 



Stems round, slender, solid, erect, 3 to 5 ft. high ; purplish green, from J to 

 |- in. thick at the base, almost hidden the first season by the clasping, persistent 

 sheaths, which are at first purplish, mottled conspicuously with pinkish grey, 

 turning grey-white with age. Branches erect, normally three at each joint, 

 forming a dense but elegant, cylindrical mass of foliage ; the branches, how- 

 ever, do not develop until the second year, the tops of the slender, whip-like, 

 leafless stems of the first year standing out above the mass of foliage through- 

 out the winter. Leaves bright green, 2 to 5 ins. long, f in. to ^ in. wide, with 

 slender, awl-like points ; four or five secondary nerves each side the midrib ; 

 margins set with minute bristles ; leaf-sheath terminated by a tuft of pale curly 

 bristles arid edged with small hairs. 



Native of Japan ; introduced to Ireland in 1889. A very pretty, well- 

 marked bamboo, distinguished by the marbled stem-sheaths, the stems 

 remaining unbranched the first season, the absence of a pipe or hollow up the 

 centre, and by the apex of the leaf being constricted about ^ in. from the tip. 

 It spreads very rapidly by underground suckers, forming luxuriant masses, but, 

 is liable to injury by winter cold. 



A. NITIDA, Mitford. 



Stems up to 10 ft. high, f in. diameter, erect and leafless the first year, 

 very dark purple, round and hollow ; the branches develop the second season 

 and the stems then arch beautifully at the top. Stem-sheaths purplish, downy, 

 measuring with the tongue at the apex 2 to 4 ins. long, which is about the 

 distance the stem joints are apart. Leaves 2 to 3^ ins. long, j to f in. wide ; 

 rounded at the base, finely pointed, vividly green above, somewhat glaucous 

 beneath ; secondary veins three or four each side the midrib, very faintly 

 defined in the fresh leaf, but conspicuous enough in the dry ; margins very 

 minutely bristly on one side. 



Native of Central and W. China ; introduced by way of St Petersburg in 

 1889, and one of the very hardiest of bamboos. It withstood the bitter weather 

 of February, 1895, better than any other species, and scarcely lost a leaf; but 

 this evergreen character appears to belong only to young plants. Since then, 

 the same plants have often lost nearly all their leaves even in comparatively 

 mild winters. The stems are never injured. This bamboo is of extraordinarily 

 vigorous growth, sending up every year a crowd of new stems, which are erect 

 and remain leafless except at the tips throughout the first winter ; the second 

 season the branches develop, and as the foliage increases in bulk the stems 

 arch outwards, and the whole plant becomes an object of surpassing elegance. 

 If I were restricted to the cultivation of one bamboo, this would be my selection. 

 It has to be mentioned that no bamboo is more susceptible to intense sunshine 

 and dryness at the root, conditions whose presence is immediately indicated 

 by the temporary curling up of the leaves. It should be given a semi-shaded 

 spot, and abundant moisture. Easily distinguished from all other bamboos by 

 its round, black-purple stems. 



