Some basic info on the two bamboos. Bamboo #1 (Pics 1-3) 1-1.5" culms 10-15' high (estimated) Bamboo #2 (Pic 4) .25-.75" culms 8-10' high (estimated) Also the grove is at least 8 years old and the soil is a heavy clay and the water table get to about 6" from the surface in winter so the height and culms size might be smaller than the ideal. Now a bit of back story. So I've grown a bit of an interest in bamboo over the years and recently I started working at one of my teachers farm in Richmond where they discovered a smallish patch of various bamboos. Now I immediately recognized the Black bamboo (seen in the background of pic 2) and knowing that its quite valuable, I suggested they started harvesting what they could and selling it on the side. They liked the idea but didn't have the time to do it them selves at the moment, so they asked if I wanted to do some research for them on making my idea a reality so I jumped on the chance. But I couldn't find anything in the books at the library or on the net on what the other two species were so now I'm turning to you all for some help. Any ideas? Bonus question: I've work for a bit in a small commercial bamboo groves, mainly for timber and shoots, but they also had one type of bamboo per grove. So if I was going to develop this small site should I try and keep the different bamboos separate or is it alright if they are intermingling? ie. will they compete more so than if they were kept a bit separated?
Compressed and distorted internodes at the base of the culms is a good indicator for Phyllostachys aurea.
Yep, almost certainly P. aurea. To your second question: keep them separate. It will become virtually impossible to divide the species you want once they are entangled, and with differing heights and looks, a mixed grove will be unsightly.
Thanks for the help you two, and on a second glance there is indeed some golden coloured culms coming out of the grove so I think P. aurea it must be. On keeping them separate, well unfortunately the grove was left abandoned for at least 7 years before my teachers got the place so I think they are inextricably intertwined, but that's alright it's not meant for looks anymore but just a possible source of some extra income. Cheers
