Looking up through the leaves of Fargesia scabrida
First scientifically described in 1985, Fargesia scabrida doesn’t seem to have a well-known common name. On the label for this plant growing at UBC Botanical Garden, we’ve opted to tentatively use “orange stem bamboo”.
It’s arguable whether that moniker will stand the test of time, as it isn’t actually the stems (or culms, in the case of bamboo) that are orange, but rather the culm sheaths. These thin pieces of tissue initially protect the developing culm. After it has elongated, the sheaths will remain on the culm for some period of time before falling to the ground. It is doubtful that the sheaths are protection against herbivory, as the sweet shoots are apparently a favoured food for the giant panda. To see photos of these orange culm sheaths, you can browse the images on this commercial site: Fargesia scabrida on plant lust.
Of course, being food for the giant panda means that this bamboo is native to China (and more specifically, southern Gansu and northern Sichuan). These plants were added to the David C. Lam Asian Garden in 2013 as part of an introduction of a number of clumping bamboo species.
Switching topics, and of particular interest to Canadian readers: you have one more week to vote for a proposed National Lichen for Canada (or read the press release from the Canadian Museum of Nature that also includes a link to vote). If interested, there is a discussion about the topic on the Garden’s forums: Canada’s National Lichen discussion. I personally didn’t vote for the Bryoria, but you may perhaps be swayed by the advocacy there!
Moment of beauty
in midst of of anxiety
and uncertainty.
Thank you.
Welcome baaaaaack.
Daniel, this year please try to make us know in the e-mail when we get a reply. Thanks,
Great time to get this, thank you, been missing you (but no guilt or pressure).
Thank you. Your postings have been missed. Wish I could have this one blown up and framed for my living room.
It should be noted that the combination Borinda scabrida (T.P. Yi) Stapleton has also been used for this plant in later years. For instance it was given preference over Fargesia scabrida T.P. Yi in the 2014 edition of The Hillier Manual of Trees & Shrubs (Royal Horticultural Society, London).
Daniel, It is wonderful to have you return to my email today!
Especially since our large, old Multnomah Library system shut down today for an indefinite time. We need to have your photos and commentary more than ever now. Thankyou, Elizabeth Brunkow in Portland.
Hi Daniel, I’ve subscribed to this for what seems like FOREVER. It never ceases to captivate, and always tends to be the most positive and uplifting email that I receive in a day, regardless of frequency. This one is certainly no exception. Thank you!!!
Happy to have you back!
Beautiful! So happy to “see” you whenever you find the time and/or a gorgeous and interesting subject.
A national lichen? How great! This is one of many (many) reasons those of us in the US admire and respect (ok, and envy) our northern neighbors. Thank you, Daniel, for this gorgeous photo. Happy Spring (whenever it arrives where you are)!
— a big fan in Maine
What a delightful surprise in my inbox this morning! Beautiful photo and informational description.
And congratulations to Canada for their proposed selection of a National Lichen of Canada. I would vote if I could. Good for you, Canada!
So happy to see you again!
This photo is gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.
Thrilled you’re back!
It’s great to see you back, Daniel, and what an elegant image this is. Just gorgeous. I hope you print it. I was delighted to learn about the lichen contest, too, and impressed by the information on each candidate on that website. I assume UBC is getting very quiet, and I hope that will give you some productive time with fewer interruptions. 🙂
Thank you. This photo is so peaceful to look at,
Delighted to see a new entry this morning and have something positive to enjoy.
Many thanks
I love the bamboos. Unfortunately I come from the weed world by employment, and we are worried about some of the running bamboos taking over native habitat in Washington state. Not on the noxious weed list yet. Fortunately, this beautiful species is a clump type, especially since it is available for sale as an ornamental. Almost 50 percent of the WA weed list is composed of plants previously sold as ornamentals.
If you need an English common name, why not translate the Chinese one you linked? Rough-flowered (or scabrous) arrow bamboo sounds cooler than orange stem bamboo, which is hardly distinctive.
It appears to be found in Bhutan as well. There it is called “Ba rhui” in the Dzongkha language.
http://legacy.tropicos.org/Image/100756105
My dad used to call this stuff butter grass. Not sure why but I still call it that and it’s interesting to see it explained so scientifically, haha. Thanks for writing this up. I was curious.