''Phyllostachys atrovaginata'' is a running
bamboo
Bamboos are a diverse group of mostly evergreen perennial plant, perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily (biology), subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family, in th ...
with strongly tapered, stiff, upright
culms. It may reveal a fragrant scent during warm weather or when vigorously rubbed.
The common name of "
Incense
Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It ...
bamboo" comes from the unique aroma.
Its culms grow large in
diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the centre of the circle and whose endpoints lie on the circle. It can also be defined as the longest Chord (geometry), chord of the circle. Both definitions a ...
relative to
height
Height is measure of vertical distance, either vertical extent (how "tall" something or someone is) or vertical position (how "high" a point is). For an example of vertical extent, "This basketball player is 7 foot 1 inches in height." For an e ...
.
Maximum height can reach 10 m (33 ft) with a maximum culm diameter of 7.0 cm (2.7 in).
[
This bamboo grows in areas ranging from ]subtropical
The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical zone, geographical and Köppen climate classification, climate zones immediately to the Northern Hemisphere, north and Southern Hemisphere, south of the tropics. Geographically part of the Ge ...
to temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (approximately 23.5° to 66.5° N/S of the Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ran ...
and tolerates winter
Winter is the coldest and darkest season of the year in temperate and polar climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Dif ...
temperature
Temperature is a physical quantity that quantitatively expresses the attribute of hotness or coldness. Temperature is measurement, measured with a thermometer. It reflects the average kinetic energy of the vibrating and colliding atoms making ...
s down to -23 °C (-10 °F),
[
][
being a more cold-hardy bamboo.
Like water bamboo, the ]rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...
s and root
In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...
s of this species also have air canals as an adaptation for living in wet soil.
[
The specific epithet ''atrovaginata'' or "dark- sheathed" is inspired from the dark green and deep red wine colors of the culm sheaths.
][
''P. atrovaginata'' has formerly been called ''Phyllostachys congesta''.
][
]shoot
Shoot most commonly refers to:
* Shoot (botany), an immature plant or portion of a plant
* Shooting, the firing of projectile weapons
* Photo shoot, a photography session; an event wherein a photographer takes photographs
Shoot may also refer t ...
s can be harvested in spring from this cultivated species, while the culms can be used split or unsplit for weaving or crafting bamboo articles.
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References
atrovaginata
Grasses of China
{{Bamboo-stub