Common Name: Sweet Bamboo

General Information

Sweet bamboo is a densely tufted, sympodial, evergreen bamboo. Its culm is erect with a pendulous tip, growing 14 - 25 metres tall[].
The plant is widely cultivated in southern China and elsewhere in tropical Asia for its edible young shoots[]. There is a considerable international trade, especially to Japan, also to N. America, Europe and other areas of Asia[]. The plant is also cultivated as an ornamental in some areas[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, Myanmar, Vietnam.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Bamboo
Height	20.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in subtropical conditions, as well as in lowland to moderate elevations in the tropics[]. It is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres in Taiwan, where it can tolerate temperatures as low as -4°c[]. It prefers areas of high rainfall[].
Grows best in moist, fertile soils[]. Heavy clay, gravel alkaline or acidic soils are not suitable for the production of edible shoots[].
Vegetatively propagated plants can develop within 3 years into clumps with 20 - 25 culms, on average 5 - 6 metres tall and 3 - 4cm in diameter[]. Five year old plants can have a culm height in the region of 15 metres with a diameter of 7cm[].
A 1 - 2 year-old culm can produce 5 - 10 shoots weighing 3 - 5 kg[]. Average young shoot production per clump increases in the first 5 years after planting from 30 kg in the 2nd year to 60 kg in the 3rd year to 80 kg in the 4th year, to a maximum of about 100 kg in the 5th year[].
Bamboos have an interesting method of growth. Each plant produces a number of new stems annually - these stems grow to their maximum height in their first year of growth, subsequent growth in the stem being limited to the production of new side branches and leaves. In the case of some mature tropical species the new stem could be as much as 30 metres tall, with daily increases in height of 30cm or more during their peak growth time. This makes them some of the fastest-growing species in the world[].
The plant is used in breeding programmes to develop hybrid cultivars that grow fast and provide quality construction material with wide adaptability and high economic value, or to provide better tasting shoots[].
Bamboos in general are usually monocarpic, living for many years before flowering, then flowering and seeding profusely for a period of 1 - 3 years before usually dying.
Flowering is rare in Taiwan; though sporadic flowering and fruiting is a normal occurrence in the Philippines, Indonesia and China[].

Edible Uses

Young stems - raw or cooked[]. Unusually free of any unpleasant taste, even when raw[]. Considered to be delicious[]. They are also shredded and dried then used in Chinese-style snacks in Japan[]. The stems can be 15 - 30cm in diameter[].
Young shoots are harvested 7 - 25 days after emergence, when they are 35 - 60 cm tall. Harvesting may start in the 2nd year of growth of a clump[].
Harvested shoots are steamed, cut lengthwise, cleaned and sterilized for 15 minutes in pure or salted boiling water before eating or canning[]. When boiled in pure water a white compound (containing 90% tyrosine) usually precipitates, which can be removed by boiling for 1.5 hours in a 0.06 - 0.07% citric acid solution, followed by 12 hours of washing. For the production of fermented dry shoots, the middle parts of shoots are boiled first and then left to ferment for 2 - 4 weeks, and subsequently sliced into parts of 4 - 5 cm x 2.8 mm[]. In the Philippines harvested culms are either dried directly in the sun or shade or first kept in running water for several weeks before being air dried[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The leaves are used to make hats, roofs for boats and as material for packing[].

The culm is erect with a pendulous tip, growing 14 - 25 metres tall, 8 - 20 cm in diameter at the base, with a wall 5 - 30mm thick and internodes that are 20 - 70 cm long[]. Mature culms are used as water pipes, to make small rafts for fishing in streams, to weave baskets, and are also used in house construction and for making paper pulp[].
Harvesting of culms may start when clumps are 3 - 7 years old. To ensure sustainable yields, only over-mature and a few mature culms should be harvested at one time, and the number of harvested culms should not exceed 60% of the standing mature culms[310.

Propagation

Seed - many, if not all, members of this genus have a short viability and should be sown within 2 - 3 months of harvest. Sow in containers and only just cover. Germination usually takes place readily. Prick out into individual pots as soon as the plants are large enough to handle. Plant out into permanent positions when 20cm tall. Plants may remain in their low-growing juvenile state for several years - cutting the culms to the ground level can stimulate taller adult growth[].
As seed is usually rather rare, vegetative propagation by cuttings is normal practice. The preferred cuttings are taken from 2-year-old culms, are 50 cm long (2-noded), and are planted horizontally 6 - 10 cm deep. The rooted cuttings are preferably transplanted in the rainy season when 2 years old[].

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