Regarding the recent comments on bamboo seeds/seedlings:
As an ornamental grower, I'm very familiar with the internet-availability of
seeds and seedlings. This familiarity is based mostly on photographs that
are emailed, or actual plants (seedlings), brought to my nursery. In each
case, the plant or photo is accompanied by puzzlement as to why their plant
appears to be anything but the species they purchased. In most cases, the
seed source was the vendor from Germany and the transaction often occurred
on EBay. I actually still have one of these plants that's now three years
old and is about 2 feet tall (labeled Bambusa lako, and left behind in
disgust). I've yet to see any of these internet sourced seeds develop true
to form.
My take is that, if demand exists for a particular species, someone's (or
some people are) writing that species name on whatever bags of seeds they
have at that time.
You just can't go to the bamboo seed store and buy whatever species whenever
you want. The availability of a particular species is dependent on the
extremely infrequent flowering cycles of that species. Even if the source is
positively from the desired species, the seedlings may not grow true to form
and may vary in vigor.
I'm going to provide an excerpt from an article written by Lennox Muller on
the subject of seedling variability:
(On variation in seedlings, Bamboo Bulletin [Australia], Vol. 5, #1, April
2003, p. 17: "...while the subject of this article is hybridism in
Gigantochloa, it serves as a warning also to growers of bamboos from seed,
that while any bamboo seed can produce variable offspring, open pollination
of different species in the wild can result in the formation of hybrids,
which could be unwanted. The self-pollination of one of these hybrids in the
profuse flowering of a single clump can result in further variability as
described here. In my opinion, since propagation of bamboo by seed is
laughingly easy and the plants produced can vary widely in both positive or
negative ways, they should be sold very cheaply with a warning label
pointing out that they are unproven seedlings and may give unsatisfying
results. Growing plantation bamboos from seedlings and tissue-culturing
unproven seedlings is merely for the adventurist."
Has anyone here grown bamboo seedlings, sourced from internet vendors, that
have developed true to form? I've recently germinated Guadua chacoensis
seeds that have developed into vigorous plants that show every identifying
feature of the species. Those seeds were sent to me by the American Bamboo
Society and they originated in Argentina. I know the person who sent the
seeds and was aware of the species in flower. It's no surprise that the
seedlings are looking like winners.
Still, it seems to me that if anyone is considering starting a large-scale
plantation of specific bamboo species, bamboo seeds shouldn't be the primary
option - and probably not an option at all.
Robert Saporito
Florida
From: bamboo-plantations@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:bamboo-plantations@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Txbooguru@aol.com
Subject: Re: [bamboo-plantations] Re: Micropropagation of bamboos
In a message dated 10/6/2008 7:43:32 PM Central Daylight Time,
gordon@gniessen.com <mailto:gordon%40gniessen.com> writes:
I am interested in doing something in Northern Alabama and an looking to
see if I need to start with larger stock or if seed planting is viable.
Starting w/ dug "starts" will put your plants some years ahead of seed:: Of
course if y9u are speaking of planting large areas, the Seed or tissue
culture would almost be a must.
Been there, done that. If one is a "true" nursery person, with all the
attendance knowledge, then seedlings, may be a viable way to go, but for me,
dug starts are MUCH quicker, and is done correctly should give 100%
successful plants. Moso is NOT one of the easiest bamboo's to transplant,
and establish.. Right time of year, and good techniques, are MOST helpful..
Been there, done THAT also. I've killed so many Moso's trying to make them
grow where they don't want to be, that I've given up on them. (Of course "I"
don't plan on "growing my own house" either...
Best regards from Central TExas. Kinder
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