Mexican weeping bamboo
Otatea acuminata in the San Francisco Botanical Garden.
Otatea acuminata ( syn. Arundinaria acuminata Munro, Yushania acuminata ( Munro ) McClure ) is a bamboo species in the genus mourning bamboo ( Otatea ).
Description
Otatea acuminata is a neotropical, clump forming bamboo type, reminiscent of giant horsetails. It forms short rhizomes. The leaves are up to 30 cm long and 0.5 cm wide. The branches are strongly drooping. The stalks are pendent, have a diameter 2-4 cm, 2 to 4 m high ( in Mexico to 10 m).
Etymology
The name comes from Otatea Otate, the term for bamboo in Nahuatl ( Aztec ). acuminata means " acuminate ".
Dissemination
The species native to western Mexico and lives at altitudes 500-1600 m above sea level in dry forests with oak, acacia and white rubber trees.
Culture and use
Otatea acuminata is not hardy and needs temperatures above 5 ° C. But he tolerates dry and slightly chalky sites. This bamboo species grows unprotected in Europe in a Mediterranean climate.
In Mexico, the stalks are used to produce baskets, walking sticks and broom handles.
Subspecies
There are two subspecies:
- Otatea acuminata ( Munro ) CECalderón & Soderstr. subsp. acuminata
- Otatea acuminata subsp. aztecorum ( McClure & E.W.Sm. ) R.Guzmán et al. ( Syn: Otatea aztecorum ( McClure & EWSm ) CECalderón & Soderstr, Yushania aztecorum McClure & EWSm. .. )
Varieties (Selection)
- ' Dwarf'
- ' Mayan Silver'
- ' Michoacan '