HE henon bamboo or golden bamboo (Physllostachis nigra var. Henonis) is one of the following floors It is about to present a view that is the most curious in the world and that not every living person can witness, even if they live next to these vegetables. And this type of bamboo found in Japan, It blooms once every 120 years. The last flowering occurred in 1908, and although the maximum of the new section will occur in 2028, it is observed that some examples are already flowering.
This species is native to China but has been cultivated in Japan for centuries. It is a monocarpic plant Reaches a height of 10 to 14 meters. The stems are dark green with yellow stripes. Interestingly, like other vegetables, the plant dies after flowering.
Flowering begins with the appearance of inflorescences on the culms (stems) of bamboo, which are clusters of small, inconspicuous flowers grouped at the top. The flowers have a color ranging from cream to yellow and emit a sweet scent..
mysterious breeding
Golden bamboo is a plant shrouded in mystery because Scientists still don’t know exactly how it reproduces.. Studying its flowering will give valuable clues about all this. Already in 2020, researchers from Hiroshima University found a population of Henon bamboo blooming slightly ahead of time and therefore had the opportunity to study the process closely.
The observed result was: The plants produced seeds, but none germinated.. “Bamboo did not produce viable seeds that could germinate. Bamboo shoot production ceased after flowering. “After flowering for the next three years, this bamboo showed no signs of regeneration,” says Toshihiro Yamada, first author of this study.
The fact that it is still unclear how the plant reproduces contrasts with the fact that it has been in Japan for 1,000 years, since it arrived from China. Experts suspect this bamboo probably uses underground organs reproduce
Ecological effects of bloom
Since this bamboo variety does not produce viable seeds, it is probablyWhen this major bloom event occurs, leave large areas open and depopulate the plants, This will change the ecology of the region.
The environmental impacts of this major shift will extend beyond insects and animals that depend on the food or shelter they find in bamboo forests. They may also impact the region for years to come. danger of soil erosion.
Bamboo helps anchor the soil thanks to its strong rhizomes that extend around each stem. This prevents erosion from runoff. Therefore, the sudden loss of a large area of ​​this plant can cause changes in the topography of the area.
Experts are working on measures to protect this ecological habitat during the time it takes for bamboo forests to regenerate.. One possibility is to apply fertilizers or replant the same bamboo species from non-flowering specimens. But scientists warn that each of these possibilities has drawbacks.
Reference work: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0287114
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Source: Informacion
James Sean is a writer for “Social Bites”. He covers a wide range of topics, bringing the latest news and developments to his readers. With a keen sense of what’s important and a passion for writing, James delivers unique and insightful articles that keep his readers informed and engaged.