Phyllostachys aureosulcata
(yellow groove bamboo)

Preferred Scientific Name

• Phyllostachys aureosulcata McClure

Preferred Common Name

• yellow groove bamboo

Other Scientific Names

• Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. alata T.H.Wen
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. aureocaulis Z.P.Wang & N.X.Ma
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. aureosulcata
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. pekinensis J.L.Lu
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata f. spectabilis (Chu & Chao) C.D.Chu & C.S.Chao
• Phyllostachys spectabilis C.D.Chu & C.S.Chao

International Common Names

• English: forage bamboo; stake bamboo; stake japanese bamboo; yellow-groove bamboo; yellow-groove japanese bamboo
• Chinese: huang cao zhu

Local Common Names

• Germany: Rauher Gelbrinnenbambus
• Sweden: sicksackbambu; spectabilisbambu

EPPO code

• PLLAU (Phyllostachys aureosulcata)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Monocotyledonae
•                     Order: Cyperales
•                         Family: Poaceae
•                             Genus: Phyllostachys
•                                 Species: Phyllostachys aureosulcata

P. aureosulcata is a species in the Poaceae family, a member of the grass family (The Plant List, 2013). The Poaceae family (Gramineae) consists of seven to ten subfamilies, among them is the subfamily Bambusoideae which includes both woody and herbaceous bamboos with approximately 1,575 species (Ohrnberger, 1999). There are approximately 76 species within the genus Phyllostachys (Ohrnberger, 1999).

P. aureosulcata is commonly referred to as yellow groove bamboo. The specific epithet aureosulcata, refers to the yellowish colour of the sulcus on young culms and branches and was used by McClure to name this species in 1945 (Ohrnberger, 1999). A number of cultivars of P. aureosulcata exist which differ slightly in their colour.

This species did not have a correctly assigned species name until 1945 and before 1945 was “nomina confusa [name confused]” (McClure, 1945). It was first distributed as a stake and forage bamboo and for years carried the misapplied name Phyllostachysnevinii (McClure, 1957). It was introduced into the USA as P.I. 23233, but was later renumbered as P.I. 55713 when it was discovered the original plant notes did not agree with Meyer’s notes (USDA-ARS, 2016). The original plant notes did not match, stating the species was a “ small growing variety not over 10 feet in height, forming dense clumps” (Rickel, 2016). It was originally collected as an unidentified species (Arnold Arboretum, 1946). After discovery of the error in 1933, the plants were widely distributed by the Department of Agriculture simply as Phyllostachys spp. P.I. No. 55713, until the species was described with the new scientific name P. aureosulcata by McClure in 1945 (Arnold Arboretum, 1946). The type specimen of P. nevinii, deposited at Kew was examined by Floyd A. McClure in 1935 and later by C.E. Hubbard, to see if there was any resemblance. It was determined that the name was misapplied and the two represented two entirely different species. Plant Introduction No. 55713 Phyllostachys spp. would later be named Phyllostachys aureosulcata by McClure in 1945 (McClure, 1945).

P. aureosulcata is a woody, rhizomatous perennial grass, which grows to form a dense bamboo forest. The main stem is called a culm. The culm is made up of jointed segments. The rings are called nodes. The sections between the nodes or rings, are called internodes.

P. aureosulcata has three identifying characteristics: (1) a yellow groove (called a sulcus) on every other internode (space above branch attachments), during the first year or two of the life of the culm; (2) a slight roughness to the touch at first on the internodes of new culms; and (3) occasional culms with a striking zigzag growth involving two or three of the lower nodes and internodes, rarely seen in any other bamboo. The yellow groove will fade with the age of the culm and become gradually less apparent. Unique also are the creamy white striped culm sheaths on newly emerging culms (Young and Haun, 1961).

McClure describes these morphological traits as internodes of young culms scabrous to touch and showing a distinct colouration of the sulcus of young culms and their branches as a greenish-yellow panel on the groove. The diameter of the culms can reach 15 cm, but are usually 9 cm or less depending on the age of the stand. Each year the culms will emerge thicker (Gucker, 2009). Culms and branches are green when young, with the green colour of the culm and yellow sulcus fading with age (Arnold Arboretum, 1946; Gucker, 2009).

P. aureosulcata was first introduced into the USA from Tangsi, Chekiang Province (now Zhejiang province), China by Frank N. Meyer in 1908. Frank N. Meyer was a collector at the Plant Introduction Station at Savannah, Georgia. At the time, it was distributed as a stake and forage bamboo and for years carried the misapplied name Phyllostachysnevinii (McClure, 1957).

P. aureosulcata is naturalizing in USA. In Illinois it is vegetatively escaping from an old home site into dry-mesic upland forest (USDA-APHIS, 2012). Cases of infestations spreading by rhizomes washing downstream have been documented in Connecticut (Bugwood Presentations, 2014; Bugwood Presentations, 2015). The footprint of P. aureosulcata is astonishing as the speed of invasion increases each successive year, with the stage of invasion increasing dramatically over time (Rickel, 2012).

There is little information about the introduction of P. aureosulcata into Europe. However, Ohrnberger (1999) reports that it was introduced into Germany from Italy in 1961 and was therefore introduced before this date.

Soil drainage

• free
• impeded

Soil reaction

• acid
• alkaline
• neutral

Soil texture

• heavy
• light
• medium

Natural Dispersal

P. aureosulcata reproduces vegetatively by producing new shoots from underground rhizomes which enables the plant to spread locally. For the closely related species P. aurea, a single clump of rhizome can spread 15 km in its lifetime (Gucker, 2009). However, it is also possible for rhizomes of P. aureosulcata to be dispersed into new locations by water (USDA-APHIS, 2012; Swearingen and Bargeron, 2016). This has been documented in Connecticut (Bugwood Presentations, 2014; Bugwood Presentations, 2015). Although spreading by seed is unlikely as flowers seeds are produced only rarely, it cannot be ruled out completely (USDA-APHIS, 2012).

Accidental Introduction

The spread of P. aureosulcata along roadsides by ploughs moving rhizomes has been documented (USDA-APHIS, 2012). Improper disposal of the rhizomes, such as the dumping of waste into natural areas, is also a common cause of spread, resulting in new infestations (USDA-APHIS, 2012).

Intentional Introduction

P. aureosulcata has been widely introduced for its use as an ornamental species. It was widely distributed as a stake and forage bamboo for farm use. P. aureosulcata has also been used for making fishing poles and garden stakes. The occasional culms with a zigzag growth however, have detracted from its acceptability as compared to other bamboos (McClure, 1957).

P. aureosulcata can have a negative impact on the value of properties. Numerous property appraisals have shown a reduced market value and are difficult to sell if P. aureosulcata is present (Connecticut General Assembly, 2012; Brown, 2016; Sutton, 2016). In addition to this, it can have negative impacts on property, including causing damage to driveways and sidewalks. Rhizomes have also damaged swimming pools and invaded septic and leach fields (USDA-APHIS, 2012).

P. aureosulcata is highly detrimental to the environment and can alter an entire native ecosystem through its rapid formation of dense stands. The continual thick leaf litter within the stand of P. aureosulcata along with the dense shade in the stand prohibits the growth of other species of native plants, decreasing biodiversity and altering habitats. Overtime these stands can eventually form a dense forest (Young and Hahn, 1961; USDA-APHIS, 2012; EDDMapS, 2016). P. aureosulcata poses a threat to many natural areas, including parks and conservation land (USDA-APHIS, 2012; EDDMapS, 2016). It is also possible that P. aureosulcata has allelopathic effects (USDA-APHIS, 2012).

P. aureosulcata infestations may pose a serious risk to human health. Blackbird and starling species often roost in Phyllostachys invasive bamboos and can serve as vectors for the human respiratory disease, Histoplasmosis (Glahn et al., 1994; Miller, 2013). The microscopic fungus, Histoplasma capsulatum, is found where bird droppings accumulate within the bamboo infestation. This fungus produces airborne spores which, when inhaled, can cause the disease. Histoplasmosis produces very few symptoms but can have serious health effects (Lenhardt, 2004; Cleveland Clinic, 2016; University of Maryland Medical Center, 2016). When blackbirds roost repeatedly for several years the bamboo becomes a threat to humans. The soil also becomes contaminated with the spores of the fungus and there have been a number of reports of humans contracting this disease after exposure to Phyllostachys bamboo where birds previously roosted (Haselow et al., 2014).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Tolerant of shade
• Long lived
• Has high reproductive potential
• Reproduces asexually

• Damaged ecosystem services
• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Host damage
• Monoculture formation
• Negatively impacts agriculture
• Negatively impacts forestry
• Negatively impacts human health
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Allelopathic
• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - shading
• Competition (unspecified)
• Rapid growth

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
• Highly likely to be transported internationally illegally
• Difficult/costly to control

P. aureosulcata was introduced into a number of countries for its ornamental purposes. Plants may be grown to create a screen or hedge and the canes may be used for light construction.

The young shoots of P. aureosulcata may also be eaten either raw or cooked (PFAF, 2016).