Square-stemmed bamboo
Chimonobambusa quadrangularis

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A bamboo. It can be 10 m tall. The culms have prominent nodes. Mature culms are almost square in cross section. New culms are purple. The culms are 5 cm across. There are spines which curve backwards near the base.

There are about 10-40 Chimonobambusa species.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is hardy to -15°C. It grows between 1,000-2,000 m altitude in Japan. It does best in a moist soils and slightly shady location. It suits hardiness zones 7-10. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Caucasus, China (country/location of origin), Europe, India, Indochina, Japan, New Zealand, North America, SE Asia, Taiwan, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young shoots are peeled and boiled. They are used in stews.

Shoots are sold in markets. It is a cultivated plant.

Edible parts

Shoots

How it is grown

Plants are grown by division.

It grows for more than 100 years before flowering.

Its other names

Local names

Aka, Bambu persegi, Fang Zhu, Shikakudake, Shino-chiku, Square bamboo

Synonyms

Arundinaria quadrangularis; Arundinaria angulata (Munro) Porterf.; Bambusa angulata Munro; Bambusa quadrangularis Franceschi; Bambusa quadrangularis Fenzi; Chimonobambusa quadrangularis (Fenzi) Mak. Tetragonocalamus quadrangularis (Fenzi) Nak.;