{"id":62686,"date":"2023-01-05T12:15:23","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T12:15:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/?p=62686"},"modified":"2025-02-25T11:57:21","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T11:57:21","slug":"bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/01\/05\/bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification\/","title":{"rendered":"Bamboo (Sasa palmata) Identification"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1><strong>Bamboo \/ Spring \/ Edible<\/strong><\/h1>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-62686 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/01\/05\/bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification\/bamboo-stalks\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-stalks-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-stalks-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-stalks-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-stalks-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-stalks-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/12\/15\/wild-weaving\/bamboo_richelieu\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bamboo_Richelieu-150x150.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bamboo_Richelieu-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bamboo_Richelieu-450x450.jpeg 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bamboo_Richelieu-100x100.jpeg 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Bamboo_Richelieu-50x50.jpeg 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/01\/05\/bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification\/bamboo-general\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-general-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-general-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-general-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-general-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-general-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/01\/05\/bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification\/bamboo-flowers\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/01\/05\/bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification\/bamboo-seeds\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-50x50.png 50w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds.png 525w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/01\/05\/bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification\/arrow-bamboo-leaves\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves-450x450.png 450w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>Surprisingly bamboo can be found naturalised in the UK, it won&#8217;t grow as large as other bamboos due to our climate but can still be used.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Common Name<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Broad-leaved or Arrow leaved bamboos are the two most frequently found naturalised in the UK. Many other varieties can be found planted ornamentally in parks and gardens.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Botanical Name<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Sasa palmata\u00a0 and Pseudosasa japonica<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Scientific Classification<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Kingdom; <\/strong>plantae<\/p>\n<p><strong>Order; <\/strong>Poales<\/p>\n<p><strong>Family; <\/strong>Poaceae (Gramineae)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Physical Characteristics of Bamboo<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Bamboo belongs to the grass family Poaceae.\u00a0 The long straight stalks of this grass can reach up to 100 feet tall, depending on species.\u00a0 The two species we are looking at here are fairly short in comparison to some of their relatives.\u00a0 The stalks are jointed and hollow, often growing in thick stands.<\/p>\n<p>The stalk of the Bamboo is called a culm, (Latin for stalk is culmus).\u00a0 It consists of the main stem, leaves and inflorescence.\u00a0 The sections of the main stalk are broken down into culms and interculms, commonly described as nodes and internodes.\u00a0 Think of the nodes as your knuckles and the internodes as your finger between the knuckles.\u00a0 The internodes are hollow and the nodes are solid.\u00a0 The hollow sections of stalk, (the internodes), are usually airtight and have many uses.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Leaves<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Broad-leaved Bamboo;<\/strong> 12-30 x 3.5-9 cm with 5-13 veins on either side of the midrib.\u00a0 The leaf sheaths are hairless, bright, shiny green with a yellow midrib. The petioles, (stalk that attaches the leaf to the plant), are greenish yellow.<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-63115\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Broad-leaved-Bamboo-leaves-256x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"256\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Broad-leaved-Bamboo-leaves-256x300.png 256w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Broad-leaved-Bamboo-leaves-128x150.png 128w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Broad-leaved-Bamboo-leaves.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 256px) 100vw, 256px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Arrow Bamboo;<\/strong> longer, narrower leaves, 15-35 x 2-5 cm with 5-9 veins on either side of the midrib.\u00a0 The sheaths are dense and roughly hairy.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-63111\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves-287x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"287\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves-287x300.png 287w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves-144x150.png 144w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Arrow-Bamboo-leaves.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Flowers<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Both species have inflorescence&#8217;s arranged in loose clusters, a little bit like Oats.\u00a0 They produce flowers very infrequently.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-63120\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers-243x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"243\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers-243x300.png 243w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers-121x150.png 121w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-flowers.png 450w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 243px) 100vw, 243px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Seeds<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Because Bamboo flowers very infrequently it rarely produce seeds.\u00a0 When it does produce seeds, they look very similar to grass seeds.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-63366\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-297x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"297\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-297x300.png 297w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds-50x50.png 50w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/bamboo-seeds.png 525w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 297px) 100vw, 297px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Root<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The horizontal rhizomes have bumps called nodes and the sections of root between the nodes are called internodes.\u00a0 The lengthy roots are the main way that it spreads because they do not produce flowers and seeds for many years at a time.<\/p>\n<p>There are two types of root systems, running and clumping. Clumping Bamboo root systems clump together, making them easy to grow in pots.\u00a0 Running Bamboo sends out long horizontal rhizomes with new shoots and new branching rhizomes that come off the nodes.<\/p>\n<p>Both Broad-leaved and Arrow Bamboo have clump-forming root systems.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-62686 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/01\/05\/bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification\/bamboo-running-system\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-running-system-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-running-system-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-running-system-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-running-system-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2023\/01\/05\/bamboo-sasa-palmata-identification\/bamboo-clumping-root-system\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-clumping-root-system-150x150.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-clumping-root-system-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-clumping-root-system-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/Bamboo-clumping-root-system-50x50.png 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Habitat<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Broad-leaved Bamboo introduced native of Japan.\u00a0 Widely cultivated and naturalised from North England to Central Scotland.<\/p>\n<p>Arrow Bamboo is also an introduced species native of Japan and Korea.\u00a0 Frequently naturalised in Southern England and South West Wales.<\/p>\n<p>Both species like damp woodland, stream and pond sides.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Known Hazards<\/strong><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Must be cooked or fermented prior to consumption.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Could be confused with<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Fairly distinctive.\u00a0 There are no other grass species in the UK that look like this.\u00a0 The young shoots of <a href=\"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/2018\/10\/24\/japanese-knotweed-fallopia-japonica\/\">Japanese Knotweed<\/a> could possibly be mistaken for Bamboo but as both are edible, there is no risk of poisoning, although there are considerations to be taken if harvesting Knotweed.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Edible Use<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>The very young leaf shoots are the edible part of the plant.\u00a0 Remove the outer covering and the inner part can be enjoyed boiled or stir fried.\u00a0 You can also ferment or pickle the shoots and because they are hollow, they can be stuffed with savoury things such as mushrooms and rice or spiced minced meat.<\/p>\n<p>The seeds are also edible but it is very rare that you will find them in the wild.\u00a0 If you do, they can be ground up and added to flour or for thickening sauces.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Notes on Herbal uses<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>In traditional Chinese medicine, bamboo shoots are used to ease labour and the expulsion of the placenta by inducing uterine contractions.\u00a0 A poultice of Bamboo shoots is often used for cleaning wounds and healing infections.\u00a0 Bamboo shoot decoction, taken with honey, is used to treat respiratory disorders.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><b>Extra notes from the Foragers<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>With its characteristically hollow stems, Bamboo represents enlightenment in Buddhism.\u00a0 Once we have learned to embrace emptiness we become a vessel for the universal spirit.\u00a0 Once free from worldly attachments, we begin to find relief from suffering and attain real wisdom, according to Buddhist beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>Because Bamboo is very strong and fast-growing, it is associated with fertility, long life, and immortality across Asia and there are a great many myths and legends associated with Bamboo.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bambubatu.com\/bamboo-symbolism\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">You can check some of them out here;<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The etymological root of the binomial name <em>Sasa<\/em> is from the Japanese name for certain dwarf bamboos.\u00a0 <em>Palmata<\/em> is derived from the Latin <em>palmatum<\/em> meaning \u2018palm like\u2019, in reference to the leaves.<\/p>\n<p><em>Pseudo <\/em>means fake or impersonator.\u00a0 So <em>Pseudosasa <\/em>refers to the similarity between Broad-leaved and Arrow Bamboo, but they are not the same plant and <em>japonica <\/em>is where the plant originated.<\/p>\n<p>Harvest bamboo shoots by digging around them and cutting them off just above the rhizome.\u00a0 Clean the shoots and peel the outer sheaths.\u00a0 As you get closer to the soft edible core, as you remove the sheaths, you\u2019ll notice the bottom of some of the sheaths will be white or a very light colour.\u00a0 Don\u2019t discard these.\u00a0 They can be cut from the tough part of the outer sheath and made into Bamboo crisps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bamboo \/ Spring \/ Edible Surprisingly bamboo can be found naturalised in the UK, it won&#8217;t grow as large as other bamboos due to our climate but can still be used. Common Name Broad-leaved or Arrow leaved bamboos are the two most frequently found naturalised in the UK. Many other&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1050,"featured_media":63117,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,86],"tags":[1620,152,1621,104],"class_list":["post-62686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-plant-identification","category-plants","tag-bamboo","tag-edible","tag-sasa-palmata","tag-spring"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62686","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1050"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62686"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62686\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":119823,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62686\/revisions\/119823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/63117"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/totallywilduk.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}