Parts of a Bamboo
Sympodial (Clumping): Sympodial or clumping bamboos are those that DO NOT spread and form tight clumps which only slowly expand in diameter each year.
Monopodial (Running): Monopodial or running bamboos are the dreaded bamboos that will not only take over your garden or property, but quite possibly also your neighbours. Bamboo groves of running bamboo can be very beautiful, but only in areas where space is not an issue or where they can be controlled.
Rhizome: These are the underground stems of a bamboo from which culms, roots and other rhizomes can grow.
Culm: This is the name given to the stems of a bamboo.
Shoot: This is the name given to a young culm as it emerges from the ground from the rhizome.
Node: Nodes are the diaphragms that separate the hollow bamboo culms into compartments. These are the visible 'rings' on the bamboo culms.
Internode: The hollow sections between the nodes. These vary in length from species to species.
Culm Sheath: This is the name give to the protective leaves which wrap around new shoots / young culms as they grow. They give the culms strength during the initial growth period until the culm matures and the timber hardens. Once this has happened (usually once the culm has reached its full height) the culm sheaths start falling off. Culm sheaths are also an excellent aid in identifying bamboo species - but that's too much to go into detail here.
Gigantochloa sp. 'Rachel Carson'