Practical
Plants

Chusquea culeou

Culeu

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Gramineae
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
5 m
Spread
2.5 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

Young shoots - cooked[10][5].

Plant part
Stem

Material uses

The canes are used in making musical instruments, plain furniture and fencing[3].

Product or use
Musical
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
S. America - Argentina, Chile.
Habitat
Montane woodlands in the Andes[4].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerances
drought
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

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. Grow on in a lightly shaded place in the greenhouse until large enough to plant out. Seed is rarely available. Division in spring as new growth commences. Very difficult[8]. Take divisions with at least four 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[8]. Basal cane cuttings.

Cultivation

Prefers a damp humus rich soil[8]. Prefers an open loam of reasonable quality, doing well on peat[2]. Likes plenty of moisture in the growing season[2]. Established plants are drought tolerant[10][4][7]. They require a position sheltered from cold north and east winds[2][8]. A very hardy plant[10][4], tolerating temperatures down to about -15°c[8]. Another report says that the plant is probably only hardy in the milder areas of the country[1]. It succeeds outdoors at Edinburgh Botanical Gardens[7] and is growing well at Kew[K]. This species is found further south in the world than any other species of bamboo, it grows in Chile as far south as latitude 47°south[7]. The rootstock is caespitose, new shoots are produced from late April and can grow 15cm overnight[10]. Plants take 2 - 3 years to settle down after being moved but are then quite fast growing[4]. Another report says that they are slow growing[6]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[8]. Plants flower and produce seed annually in the wild without dying as a result of the flowering[4]. Plants of the cultivar 'Tenuis' have been observed to be flowering in 1994, this is the first record of this species flowering in the northern hemisphere[9].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

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  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. ? Flora of Chile. (in Spanish)

    ↩

  4. Grounds. R. Ornamental Grasses. Christopher Helm 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-1219-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

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  6. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

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  7. Farrelly. D. The Book of Bamboo Sierra Club. 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-87156-825-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  9. Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186

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  10. Lawson. Bamboos. Faber 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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