Practical
Plants

Phyllostachys nigra

Black Bamboo

a woody evergreen member of the Phyllostachys genus in the family Gramineae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Gramineae
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
7.5 m
Spread
6 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - cooked[13][14][2][7]. Somewhat acrid when raw[16], they are prepared for eating by boiling in one change of water, the water being changed after 8 - 10 minutes[8]. A distinctive taste and aroma[8]. The shoots are harvested in the spring when they are about 8cm above the ground, cutting them about 5cm below soil level.

Plant part
Stem

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are antipyretic and diuretic[11]. They are used internally in the treatment of fevers (especially infantile convulsions), vomiting and nosebleeds[12]. The leave are harvested during the growing season and dried for later use[12]. The juice of the stems is antipyretic, antitussive, expectorant and sedative[5][6][11]. It is taken internally in the treatment of lung infections with cough and phlegm[12]. The sap is pressed from young stems in the summer and then dried for later use[12]. The epidermis of the stem bark is antiemetic, depurative and sedative[5][6][11]. It is used internally in the treatment of vomiting, nosebleeds, coughs etc[12]. The epidermis is collected from young stems in the summer and is dried for later use[12]. The root is astringent, antipyretic, diuretic and styptic[5][6][11]. It has been used in the treatment of rabies[12]. The roots are harvested in the winter and dried for later use[12].

Product or use
Antiemetic
Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Depurative
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Expectorant
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Styptic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The canes make good plant supports. Thin walled but durable, the canes are also used for cabinet work and for decorative panels and inlays[9]. The rhizome is used in making umbrella handles, wickerwork, canes, musical instruments and various kinds of handicrafts[13][17].

Product or use
Basketry
Product or use
Plant support
Product or use
Wood

Environment

Range
E. Asia - E. and C. China.
Habitat
Fertile and moist places, also by streams[5].
Shade tolerance
partial shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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. Divisions from the open ground do not transplant well, so will need careful treatment and nurturing under cover in pots until at least late spring[12]. Division is best carried out in wet weather and small divisions will establish better than large clumps[12]. Another report says that you can take large divisions from established clumps and transfer them straight to their permanent positions, misting or drenching them frequently until they are established[10]. Basal cane cuttings in spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a rich damp soil in a sheltered sunny position[10][12] and plenty of moisture in the growing season[1]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to at least -7°c, but it dislikes prolonged exposure to hard frosts[10]. Another report says that it is hardy to about -18°c[9]. A very ornamental plant[1]. There are many named forms of this species, some of them are given specific status by some botanists[3][10]. These forms include 'Boryana', 'Fulva', 'Henonis' and 'Punctata'. It is the form 'Henonis' that is normally used medicinally in China[6]. Plants only flower at intervals of many years. When they do come into flower most of the plants energies are directed into producing seed and consequently the plant is severely weakened. They sometimes die after flowering, but if left alone they will usually recover though they will look very poorly for a few years. If fed with artificial NPK fertilizers at this time the plants are more likely to die[4]. This is a good companion species to grow in a woodland because the plants are shallow rooted and do not compete with deep rooted trees[9]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[10]. The plant has a running rootstock, though not aggressively so in the cooler climate of Britain[10]. and it produces new shoots from May[13]. Cultivated for its edible young shoots in China[16]. This species has been widely planted for ornament in the Mediterranean and is becoming established[15]. The ssp. P. nigra boryana and P. nigra henonis are also mentioned for their edible young shoots, they are both cultivated for their edible shoots which are similar in all respects to P. nigra. Dead stems can be removed at any time of the year[12]. It is also possible to thin the clumps in spring, leaving only the strongest stems and thus creating an open grove-like effect[12].

References

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

    ↩1↩2

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

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

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  4. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 1. 1979 - 1980. Royal Horticultural Society 1979-00-00

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  5. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

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

    ↩

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. 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

  11. Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12↩13

  13. Lawson. Bamboos. Faber 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  15. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  16. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  17. Komarov. V. L. Flora of the USSR. Israel Program for Scientific Translation 1968-00-00

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