Practical
Plants

Thamnocalamus tessalatus

Bergbamboes

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

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Gramineae
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
3.5 m
Fertility
Wind
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Material uses

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

Valuable for screen planting in wet areas[3]. The canes can be used as plant supports[4]. They were used by the Zulus for reinforcing their shields and for making arrows and spear shafts.

Product or use
Plant support

Ecology and functions

Hedge

Environment

Range
S. Africa.
Habitat
Stream lines, damp rocky slopes and forest margins, 1500 - 2500 metres.
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
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. 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[3]. Basal cane cuttings. Rhizome cuttings.

Cultivation

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

Prefers a good loamy soil but succeeds in most soils, so long as they remain moist in the summer, in sun or a shady position[3]. Dislikes drought[1]. This species is not hardy in the colder areas of the country, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[3]. Plants can reach 6 metres in a moist soil in the warmer parts of the country, but are smaller in dry soils. The canes are about 15mm in diameter[K]. This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[3]. 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[2]. The rootstock is running[4], producing new shoots from late May[4]. It can be invasive in the warmer parts of Britain but is usually fairly well behaved[3].

References

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

  3. 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

  4. Lawson. Bamboos. Faber 1968-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

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