Bambusa tuldoides Munro, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate; score: 2 (Hawaii-Pacific Weed Risk Assessment for Bambusa tuldoides)

Other Latin names:  Arundinaria angulata (Munro) Porterf.; Bambusa angulata Munro; Bambusa pallescens (Döaut;ll) Hack.; Guadua pallescens Döaut;ll; (more synonyms)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: puntingpole bamboo, verdant bamboo

Habit:  tree-like grass

Description:  "HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; 700–1500 cm long; 50 mm diam.; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 30–50 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid; erect, or ascending. Culm-sheaths glabrous; auriculate; ciliate on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade triangular; erect; pubescent (at base). Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base cuneate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.3 cm long. Leaf-blades oblong; 12–20 cm long; 10–20 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation without cross veins. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; lax; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 25–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; 6 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma 10–14 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels wingless. Palea apex pubescent. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous. Anthers 6. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp." (GrassBase)

Habitat/ecology:  Habitat: "Low hills and river banks" (Useful Tropical Plants, citing Flora of China, 1994, http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/, Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis)

In cultivation: "Succeeding in lowland tropical and subtropical areas, the plant has been known to survive short periods with temperatures as low as -7°c.... Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually - these stems grow to their maximum height in their first year of growth, subsequent growth in the stem being limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. In the case of some mature tropical species the new stem could be as much as 30 metres tall, with daily increases in height of 30cm or more during their peak growth time. This makes them some of the fastest-growing species in the world[K]. Bamboos in general are usually monocarpic, living for many years before flowering, then flowering and seeding profusely for a period of 1-3 years before usually dying. This species generally lives for about 50 years before flowering and then usually dies[310]." (Useful Tropical Plants)

Propagation:  "Seed - surface sow in containers as soon as it is ripe, preferably at a temperature around 20°c. Do not allow the compost to dry out. Germination usually takes place fairly quickly so long as the seed is of good quality, though it can take 3-6 months. Prick out the seedlings into containers when they are large enough to handle and grow on in a lightly shaded place until large enough to plant out. Plants only flower at intervals of many years and so seed is rarely available. Division as new growth commences[220]. Take divisions with at least three canes in the clump, trying to cause as little root disturbance to the main plant as possible. Grow them on in light shade in pots of a high fertility sandy medium. Mist the foliage regularly until plants are established. Plant them out into their permanent positions when a good root system has developed, which can take a year or more[200]. Plants can be propagated vegetatively by rhizome, culm and branch cuttings. The propagules are raised in a nursery and after they have produced roots and developed rhizomes they are planted out in the field during the rainy season in pits filled with a mixture of compost and soil[310]." (Useful Tropical Plants)

Native range:  China (GRIN)

Range: "E. Asia - southern China, Vietnam" (Useful Tropical Plants)

Impacts and invaded habitats:  "In Argentina, it [PIER ed.: Bambusa tuldoides] is found in the Northwest and Northeast down to the Paraná River Delta where apparently it has become naturalized (Parodi, 1943)."

If you know of other invaded habitats or impacts, please let us know.

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	cultivated	iNaturalist (various observers) (year unknown) accessed 20180916: see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15230997 with observation date of 20180807
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Consortium of Pacific Herbaria (2018)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Asia Asia	Asia (southeast)	introduced	Guerreiro, Carolina I./Lizarazu, Mabel A. (2010) (p. 26) online version accessed in 20180916: "Bambusa tuldoides is native to China, has spread all over Southeastern Asia and is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of America."
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Costa Rica (Republic of)	cultivated	Wikimedia Commons (2018) accessed 20180916: see https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Bambusa_tuldoides_1zz.jpg/120px-Bambusa_tuldoides_1zz.jpg etc.
Central America Central America (Pacific rim)	Honduras (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Guerreiro, Carolina I./Lizarazu, Mabel A. (2010) (p. 29) online version accessed in 20180916
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native cultivated	GRIN (year unknown) Guangdong, Guangxi
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) "southern China", accessed 20180916
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native cultivated	Guerreiro, Carolina I./Lizarazu, Mabel A. (2010) (p. 26; 29) online version accessed in 20180916
China China	Hong Kong	cultivated	iNaturalist (various observers) (year unknown) accessed 20180916: see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/11613127 with observation date of 20180428, etc.
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	cultivated	iNaturalist (various observers) (year unknown) accessed 20180916: see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/4525417 with observation date of 20161109
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Chile (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Guerreiro, Carolina I./Lizarazu, Mabel A. (2010) (p. 26) online version accessed in 20180916
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	cultivated	Wikimedia Commons (2018) accessed 20180916: see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gardenology.org-IMG_0574_hunt07mar.jpg etc.
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)	native	Useful Tropical Plants (year unknown) accessed 20180916

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Europe Europe	England	cultivated	Wikimedia Commons (2018) accessed 20180916: see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poales_-_Bambusa_ventricosa_2.jpg (Kew Gardens) etc.
India India	India (Republic of)		iNaturalist (various observers) (year unknown) accessed 20180916: see https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5586731 with observation date of 20170311
South America South America	Argentina	introduced invasive cultivated	Guerreiro, Carolina I./Lizarazu, Mabel A. (2010) (p. 25) online version accessed 20180916: "In Argentina, it is found in the Northwest and Northeast down to the Paraná River Delta where apparently it has become naturalized (Parodi, 1943)."
South America (non-Pacific rim) South America (non-Pacific rim)	Brazil	introduced cultivated	Guerreiro, Carolina I./Lizarazu, Mabel A. (2010) (p. 26) online version accessed in 20180916
South America (non-Pacific rim) South America (non-Pacific rim)	Paraguay	introduced	Guerreiro, Carolina I./Lizarazu, Mabel A. (2010) (p. 28) online version accessed in 20180916
South America (non-Pacific rim) South America (non-Pacific rim)	Uruguay	introduced cultivated	Guerreiro, Carolina I./Lizarazu, Mabel A. (2010) (p. 26) online version accessed in 20180916
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	Washington, D.C. (U.S. city)	cultivated	Wikimedia Commons (2018) accessed 20180916: see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bambusa_ventricosa_1zz.jpg (U.S. Botanic Garden)

Comments:  "Plants can be grown to form an effective screen and hedge[310].... The culms are used for farm equipment and as punting poles and scaffolding[310]. The split canes are used in weaving utensils and handicrafts[310]." (Useful Tropical Plants)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Bambusa tuldoides, please let us know.