Boonut from S. Texas' lastest uploaded images

[Roy]

In case you might not have looked at the latest image upload, Boonut has uploaded images of:

GUADUA aureocaulis (love to see one of these when it is full size)

<img src="http://www.bambooweb.info/images/bamboo ... s2006b.jpg" alt="GUADUA aureocaulis ">

<img src="http://www.bambooweb.info/images/bamboo ... is2006.jpg" alt="GUADUA aureocaulis ">

Dendrocalamus Giganteus "Quail Clone" (Look at the size of the leaves on that small branch)

<img src="http://www.bambooweb.info/images/bamboo ... leaves.jpg" alt="DENDROCALAMUS giganteus ">

[Cactus Joe]

Those leaves are huge! Now. I know what bamboo leaves to use to wrap up some American sized "Kiam Bak Chang".http://lilyng2000.blogspot.com/2005/06/ ... chang.html

[Roy]

Those leaves are huge! Now. I know what bamboo leaves to use to wrap up some American sized "Kiam Bak Chang".[url]http://lilyng2000.blogspot.com/2005/06/ ... chang.html

Cactus Joe,

Make mine without the soy sauce. Looks tasty. Just wonder what flavor, if any, the bamboo leaves would give the meal?

[foxd]

I thought Indocalamus tessellatus leaves were used for this?

[Roy]

I thought Indocalamus tessellatus leaves were used for this?

I've read that also about I. tessellatus, but I wonder about I. tess's growth habit in warmer climates. I grew it for a long time in Tampa, Fl, USA, and it never got over about 2 feet tall. Not nearly the 7 feet listed in the ABS Source List. Most, not all, temperate bamboos prosper better in cooler climates and perhaps I. tess does get the 7 feet and extremely large leaves further north.

Indocalamus tessellatus growing in Tampa, FL, USA
<img src="http://www.bambooweb.info/images/bamboo/I_Tess.jpg" alt="INDOCALAMUS tessellatus ">

[kstanwick]

I have Indocalamus tessellatus growing but it is small...in the ground for two years....looks like i will get a 2 ft height this year...last year it got to a foot....z6....

[boonut]

I really think that the Dendrocalamus Giganteus "Quail Clone" is the true Giganteus. It has the leaves and other features that giganteus is supposed to have.

I purchased giganteus from about six different sources before I got one that actually looks like the descriptions. The one in most of the pics from "reputable" sources is something else.

Here is my take on both. The one most commonly sold as giganteus has hair on the culms when young... The Quail clone has powder bloom and no hair. The common one sold has smaller leaves and is not as straight. I have six of the ones commonly sold in as giganteus... all in the ground. All the rest I purchased as giganteus look more like a strictus variety.

I won't go into particular vendor info, but if you want the real giganteus... my guess is that the Quail clone is it. I will post picks as they grow.

I also have the variegated giganteus. The features on this one are very similar to the Quail clone but it has variegated leaves when young. The variegation varies greatly. Some look like you spray paint the leaves... and others have stripes... most are different. They say the culm nodes on the variegated are pretty strange with one side or the other touching the next culm node on the lower nodes. Mine aren't large enough yet.

Boonut in Harlingen, TX

[BooKing]

Have seen Indocalamus Tessalatus over 7 feet tall and leaves over 2feet in the Wash D.C> area.

[Cactus Joe]

I am growing Indocalamus tessellatus for exactly that purpose. The reason that it's so suited for the wrap job is that the mature leaves are just about the perfect size and, after boiling, it is highly pliable yet tough (won't tear easily). My patch of Indocalamus tessellatus does not get over 4 feet high, but it makes up for it's diminutive height by a multitude of small culms - which means an ample supply of leaves.

The real secret is that in the Province of British Columbia, a 7% provincial sales tax is charged for the retail purchase of all ornamental plants. But when I buy the Indocalamus tessellatus , I don't get to pay the tax because I am buying it for food production!

And, no, the bamboo leaves do not impart any particular taste or fragrance to the delicious Kiam Bak Chang.

[Roy]

...snip....

I also have the variegated giganteus. The features on this one are very similar to the Quail clone but it has variegated leaves when young. The variegation varies greatly. Some look like you spray paint the leaves... and others have stripes... most are different. They say the culm nodes on the variegated are pretty strange with one side or the other touching the next culm node on the lower nodes. Mine aren't large enough yet.

Boonut in Harlingen, TX

Boonut,

I'm having a hard time trying to visualize the above (in red). Would you give a little bit more detail?

[boonut]

If you go to the pics of D. Giganteus Variegated, and look at the picture of the one with Richard Waldron, you will see what I mean.

Mine don't look like that YET...

[boonut]

I just got back from a Rotary meeting. We had a molecular biologist talking about citrus in the Rio Grande Valley. They are working on citrus varieties that will grow further north. We have nice temps for citrus, but he was saying the flavor in some is less because we are so far south... and some varieties taste better with cooler temps at night.

I plan on getting together with this Dr.'s research team to see if they are interested in bamboo. One of the things he talked about is that in California and other areas throughout the world, the temps gradually get cooler and the citrus trees have a better chance of making it through freezing temps. In our area, it can be 90 degrees one day and drop to 26 over night and back to 80 or so the next day. Further north, they can grow citrus better because of the gradual drop with no real damage to citrus crops.

I think all of this applies to bamboo as well. Thank goodness we only get temps below 27 once every 5 - 10 years. Then it is only for a few hours... All of this info is really important to what grows in your area. I look forward to reading more of their research related to citrus and fusing cells to get a more cold tolerant citrus tree that can handle the "sudden" drops.

[Roy]

If you go to the pics of D. Giganteus Variegated, and look at the picture of the one with Richard Waldron, you will see what I mean.

Mine don't look like that YET...

Boonut,

A picture is worth a thousand words:

[Roy]

...snipped....citrus, but he was saying the flavor in some is less because we are so far south... and some varieties taste better with cooler temps at night.

I plan on getting together with this Dr.'s research team to see if they are interested in bamboo. .......snipped........
.

Boonut,

In describing California citrus as opposed to Florida citrus, California citrus has more flavor because of the drop in temps at night and then back up in the daytime, and Florida citrus is described as being sweeter. The Florida citrus sweetness comes from the trees producing a sugary antifreeze in their leaves and thus the fruit.

On the research into bamboo for adding cold hardiness, I think you will find that it boils down to economics: Citrus being a major economic cash crop and bamboo being like a new shoot just barely sticking its tip out of the ground (economically speaking).