THAMNOCALAMUS. Himalaya, South Africa. A small group of clumping bamboos, each with unusual ornamental features. Their stems have decorative pale bracts and generous sprays of slender branchlets at the nodes. The leaves have a noticeably checkered pattern of veining. The following are well-behaved bamboos for individual display, screens and hedges. Both thrive in sun or shade near the coast, part shade inland, in any reasonably well drained soil, with moderate watering. Their hardiness is as shown below.
aristatus. Himalayas. This is an unusual clumping bamboo, making erect, narrow thickets. The stems are slender and openly branched, growing 8-15’ high. The lower stems are exposed and show close-lying, pale bracts against a light green background. They take on an attractive reddish cast in the sun. The upper portions display sprays of dark, narrow 3-5" leaves. Hardy to 10oF. or less.
tessellatus. South Africa. This is a somewhat stiffer plant, with straight 10-20’ stems. These present a striking contrast between dark green or purplish internodes and pale greyish tan bracts, which nearly cover the younger branchlets. The leaves are up to 5" long and rather stiff. They are prominently veined, deep green above and blue-green beneath. 15oF. or less.