Melocanna arundina

Botanical Description

Melocanna arundina is an evergreen, spreadng bamboo with rhizomes that can be up to 5 metres long and 25mm in diameter. It forms a loose or open clump of erect woody stems 8 - 20 metres tall, 3 - 7cm in diameter with walls 5 - 8mm thick and internodes 20 - 50cm long[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It is cultivated in southeast China, though the report does not specify if it is for ornament or utility. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.