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Arundinaria spp - Various

Common Name Running Bamboo
Family Poaceae
USDA hardiness 4-10
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Forms dense thickets along riverbanks, in swamps and low woods[43, 235]. Found on all types of soil; at elevations from sea level to 600 metres[195].
Range Asia, North America
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (4 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Arundinaria spp Running Bamboo


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Arundinaria spp Running Bamboo
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Summary

There are three recognized species of the genus Arundinaria accepted: Arundinaria appalachiana Triplett, Weakley & L.G.Clark – Hill cane, Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. – River cane, Arundinaria tecta Muhl. – Switch cane. Managed bamboo forest sequester more carbon than wild bamboo and the same as fast-growing tropical trees like eucalyptus.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Arundinaria spp is an evergreen Bamboo growing to 10 m (32ft) by 3 m (9ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Many. See individual species.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed  Shoots
Edible Uses:

Young shoots - cooked[11, 22, 46, 105, 183]. Used as a pot-herb[236]. Seed - cooked[46, 61, 161]. It can be used as a wheat substitute[2, 105], for which it is not much inferior[213], but it is rather small and difficult to collect in quantity[159]. The plants only flower at irregular intervals of several years. See individual species for more information.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


See individual species.

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Fodder

Agroforestry Uses: With its extensive running root system, the plant is ideal for helping to control soil erosion, especially along the sides of rivers[352]. The extense growth of the plant provides streambank stabilization, sediment retention, and bioaccumulation of nutrients and toxins[1050].So long as it can be restrained, the plant makes an excellent, dense hedge or screen[352]. The canes are used as pipe-stems, are woven into baskets and mats plus a variety of other purposes[169, 236]. The hollow stems can be made into flutes[257]. Carbon Farming Solutions - Industrial Crop: biomass (Crops grown for non-food uses. Industrial crops provide resources in three main categories: materials, chemicals, and energy. Traditional materials include lumber and thatch, paper and cardboard, and textiles) [1-1]. Fodder: bank.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Fodder: Bank  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Managed Multistem  Minor Global Crop

There are three recognized species of the genus Arundinaria accepted: Arundinaria appalachiana Triplett, Weakley & L.G.Clark – Hill cane, Arundinaria gigantea (Walt.) Muhl. – River cane, Arundinaria tecta Muhl. – Switch cane. Climate: cold to warm temperate. Humidity: humid. Carbon Farming Solutions - Managed bamboo forest sequester more carbon than wild bamboo and the same as fast-growing tropical trees like eucalyptus. Cultivation: minor global crop. Management: managed multistem (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

  • Fodder: Bank  Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
  • Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
  • Management: Managed Multistem  Regularly removing some multiple stems. A non-A non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
  • Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - surface sow as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse at about 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. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Bamboos only flower at intervals of several years and so seed is rarely available. Division in late spring as new growth commences. 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 a greenhouse 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]. Rhizome cuttings. Basal cane cuttings.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Arundinaria spp, Arundinaria species. Arundinaria appalachiana, Hill cane, Arundinaria gigantea, River cane, Arundinaria tecta, Switch cane.

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Asia. North America

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Arundinaria giganteaCanebrake bamboo, Cane Reed, Giant caneBamboo9.0 5-9  LMHSNM314
Semiarundinaria fastuosaNarihiradake, Narihira bambooBamboo7.5 6-9 SLMHSNM502
Semiarundinaria murielaeUmbrella BambooBamboo4.0 6-9 SLMHSNM003

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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