Himalayacalamus falconeri (Munro) Keng f.
by W.R. Sykes
fountain bamboo, fairy bamboo
Clump-forming, fountain-like; rhizomes not running. Culms initially erect and wand-like, later arching over, 2-2.5 m, glaucous-white when young, becoming medium to deep green. Culm-sheath uniformly green or purplish green; ligule 1-5 mm, puberulent; auricles and bristles 0; sheath-blades linear-subulate. Branches many at each node, small, densely tufted. Leaf-sheath green or purplish, glabrous excepting margins sometimes ciliate. Ligule prominent, oblong, minutely puberulent. Leaf-blade usually 4-12-(15) × 0.4-0.8-(1.3) cm, narrow lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, long acuminate. Panicles large and diffuse. Spikelets 8-12 mm, often purple or strongly flushed purple. Glumes < florets, unequal, minutely puberulent; lower ¾ - ⅚ length of upper. Lodicules c. 2 × 2 mm, ciliate. Caryopsis 6-7 mm, blackish.
N.: Waikato River (Hamilton), Taranaki (Urenui). River bank, amongst scrub and introduced trees, scattered plants for c. 100 m. Sometimes regenerates in gardens and nurseries in the vicinity of cultivated plants.
Naturalised from the Himalaya.
Fountain bamboo is the only bamboo in N.Z. which has spread beyond its place of cultivation by regeneration from seed. The latest flowering period in N.Z. was 1992-1998, and some plants have flowered and died. These periods occur at approximately 15-20 year intervals, after which the plants usually die.
Himalayacalamus falconeri is the most popular cultivated bamboo in N.Z. in recent times.
