ARUNDINARIA 219 



A. RAGAMOWSKI, Pfitzer. 



(Bambusa tessellata, Munro ; B. Ragamowski, Hort.} 



Stems 2 to 3 ft. high, to in. diameter, with a very small hollow up the 

 centre ; the joints i to 3 ins. apart. Stem-sheath persistent, 8 to 10 ins. long, 

 clasping not only that part of the stem above the joint from which it springs, 

 but also portions of the two or three stem-sheaths above it ; it is fringed with 

 haifs. Leaves somewhat ribbed, of varying size, the largest 18 ins. long, and 

 3 to 4 ins. wide in the middle ; abruptly tapered at the base, very slenderly 

 pointed, dark green above, glaucous beneath. The larger leaves have fifteen 

 to eighteen secondary veins at each side the midrib, which is yellow ; and 

 tucked under one side of the midrib, especially towards the base, is a line of 

 pale hairs. (See Plate, p. 78.) 



Native of China ; cultivated in England since 1845, probably before. It is 

 the most striking of dwarf bamboos, with larger leaves than any other, tall or 

 dwarf, and forms broad, rounded masses, the outer stems of which arch 

 outwards to the ground, and out of which spring each summer the spike-like 

 new growths. It has never been known to flower under cultivation. Very 

 hardy. It differs from A. palmata in the dwarfer habit but larger leaves. 



A. SlMONI, Riviere. 



(Bambusa Simoni, Carriers ; B. viridi-striata, Hart.") 



Stems up to 18 ft. high, round, very hollow, from i to i ins. diameter at 

 the base, the outer ones arching outwards. Stem-sheaths rather persistent, 

 the largest 8 to 10 ins. long, purplish when young-, hairy at the margins, very 

 glazed within. Leaves narrow-oblong, broadly wedge-shaped at the base, with 

 long, tapered points ; 3 to 12 ins. long, ^ to ij ins. wide, vivid green above, 

 glaucous on one side of the midrib beneath, rather greener the other ; secondary 

 veins four to seven each side the midrib. 



Native of China ; introduced to France oy M. Simon in 1862. A very 

 vigorous bamboo, which spreads rapidly by means of its underground suckers, 

 and, with the exception of A. fastuosa, the tallest of our hardy sorts. It bears 

 some resemblance to that species, under which the distinctions are pointed out. 

 A. Simoni flowered all over the country between 1903 and 1905. For many 

 years previous to those dates odd stems had flowered, and occasionally borne 

 seed without any damage to the plants, but then came the flowering of the 

 entire plants, none of which ever recovered. In gardens now A. Simoni is 

 only known by small plants raised from the seed then obtained. 



Var. CHINO, Makino (Bambusa Laydekeri, Marliac]. A dwarf plant rarely 

 more than 3 to 4 ft. high. Its relationship with A. Simoni was not suspected 

 until it flowered in 1896, when a botanical examination of the flowers showed 

 them to be almost identical with those of that species. The leaves of 

 Laydeker's bamboo are \\ to 6 ins. long, \ to f in. wide, dark green, mottled 

 with dull yellow. This mottling distinguishes it from all other hardy 

 Arundinarias. Most, if not all the plants in cultivation, died after flowering, 

 and it is now only known in gardens from a few seedlings raised at the time. 

 Its loss is not a great one, for it is, perhaps, the dullest and least effective of 

 hardy bamboos. 



Var. VARIEGATA, Hooker (Bot Mag., t. 7146) ; Bambusa albo-striata, 

 Hort.}. In this variety^some of the leaves are striped with white, the leaves so 

 marked being very small and narrow. The full-sized green leaves do not 

 differ from those of the type. This variety has not yet flowered, except 

 partially, in this country. It is of little value. 



