kaiimike-

1. Can you proofread that link? It didn't work for me...

2. For identification, pictures, especially closeups, are important, along with a a written description. I'll start the list of features and others can add:
   -NEW SHOOTS -- color; appearance/structure; presence/absence of auricles (little protuberances on the end of the culm leaf), and the presence/absence of fimbriae (hairs) on them; plus a description of the culm sheath and whether it's persistent
   -CULMS -- color (including variations as they age); presence or absence of a sulcus (groove) and whether the sulcus is a different color; striping or contrasting coloration of culms; diameter of culms; height of culms; approximate spacing of nodes and whether there are any variations (like closer spacing near the base); distinctive appearance of nodes (such as bulging/cupping, or whether there is any powdery residue)
   -BRANCHING -- pattern (number of branches, approximate angle to culm)
   -LEAVES -- color (including any variegation), size, and shape
   -RHIZOMES -- if you have any knowledge of the appearance of the root system, it would help in classifying the plant as a runner or clumper.

Well...that's a start...

Ack, should have used the link tags anyhow. I hope this works better...

Click this Link.

Thanks for the quick (and very informative) response!

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to unknown bamboo

As far as the i.d., I'm not certain. With that many branches per node, could be some type of Fargesia, but that's just a WAG.

I can tell you that your bamboo has spider mites, which accounts for the loss of chlorophyll evidenced in the photo on the lower left. This is one of the few things that can mess with bamboo. It won't kill it, but it makes the leaves look spotty. There are pesticides that can cure this but, unfortunately, they are very pricey.

Thanks, I am having zero luck ID'ing it. I recognized the spider mites as well, and actually shortly after those pictures were taken, I performed a radical culm-ectomy... Hopefully, the problem has been addressed.

As far as the ID goes, I did some furthur checking and the since the sulcus only goes up halfway on the internode and there are no visible auricles or bristles on the sheath blade, my books tell me I should be looking at Sinarundinaria. But it seems unlikely as it appears to run prolificaly. So, I am at square one. :)

Semiarundinaria fastuosa viridis. Mites probably bamboo mites, not spider mites.

I second the S.fastuosa 'viridis', if it's not then it's in the genus or a closely related one.

Ron B,

Do you think they are bamboo mites? I can clearly see them with the naked eye (and they are red!), it was my understanding that spotting bamboo mites required the aid of a hand lens. Do you ever have any problems with mites? If you do, what have you done about it?

I found the following passage in "The Grower's Guide To Growing Temperate Bamboo" (Michael Bell)

"The new culm sheaths, if removed before naturally parting from the culm, have a brillant, shining wine color on the inner surface which is not found on other bamboos and is confirmation of the species in smaller specimens." pg130

So, I ran outside and yanked one off and sure enough, I saw a brillant, shining, wine color. So it seems S.fastuosa 'viridis' is indeed correct.

I really appreciate all the help!