Alias: A hundred-foot grass, flat bamboo pole
Family: Evergreen shrubs.
Botanical Classification: Dicotyledons
Subclass:
Morphological Features:
This is a perennial, upright herb that can grow between 0.6 to 2 meters in height. The base of the stem is cylindrical and lignified, while the upper part is flat and has distinct bands. The width of the stem ranges from 7 to 12 mm, with a dark green, glossy surface and visible fine lines. The nodes are slightly contracted, and the stipular sheath has degenerated into a linear shape. The branches are narrow at the base and sharp at the tip.
Leaves are abundant on new branches, arranged alternately, ovate in shape, measuring 4 to 20 mm in length and 2 to 10 mm in width. The leaf tips are acute, and the base is wedge-shaped. The edges are entire or slightly serrated near the base. The venation is pinnate, and the leaves are sessile.
The small, bisexual flowers have slender structures. The bracts are tannic and yellowish-brown. The perianth consists of 4 to 5 lobes, oblong in shape, approximately 1 mm long, pale green in color, turning red later. There are 6 to 7 stamens, with flat filaments and white anthers. The pistil is single, with a superior ovary and short styles that split into three. The disease-resistant triangle is found within the red cytoplasm of the perianth.
Flowering occurs from September to October, and fruiting takes place from October to November.
Origin:
Bamboo knots are native to the Solomon Islands in the Pacific.
Growth Habits:
They prefer warm and moist environments and can tolerate both sunlight and shade. They are slightly resistant to cold and can be cultivated in southern coastal areas of China. They are not particular about soil type.
Potted bamboo shoots should be repotted every three years, typically during spring. Older plants develop columnar stems with less defined sections, which reduces their ornamental value. To maintain high aesthetic appeal, cuttings can be used to propagate new shoots and rejuvenate the plant.
Reproduction is mainly done through tender stem cuttings.
Uses:
Bamboo knots are lush, with flat, bright green stems and unique shapes. They are commonly used as potted plants in indoor greenhouses for decoration. In warmer regions, they can also be grown in gardens for landscaping purposes.
Harvesting: Can be collected throughout the year, either fresh or dried.
Taste: Sweet and slightly cold.
1 "Guangxi Herbal Medicine": "The taste is light and astringent, slightly cold, and non-toxic."
2 "Quanzhou Materia Medica": "Taste is slightly sour and sweet, flat, non-toxic."
Meridian Affinity:
1 "Guangxi Herbal Medicine": "Enters the heart and liver meridians."
2 "Quanzhou Materia Medica": "Enters the heart and liver, helps reduce swelling."
Function and Indications:
Clearing heat and detoxifying, reducing swelling and resolving nodules. It is used to treat boils, bruises, snake bites, and insect stings.
1 "Guangxi Herbal Medicine": "Draws out toxins and reduces swelling. Treats venomous snake bites."
2 "Quanzhou Materia Medica": "Clears heat and detoxifies, resolves phlegm and blood stasis, relieves pain. Used for phlegm-related poisoning, bruises, and snake bites."
Usage and Dosage:
Oral: Decoction, 3–5 qian (fresh: 2–4 liang). For external use, apply directly.
Selected Recipes:
1 Treatment of bruises: Fresh bamboo knot, twenty-two pieces, decocted with wine and applied to the affected area. ("Quanzhou Materia Medica")
2 Poisonous snake bite: Twenty-two bamboo knots, two pieces of red black eucalyptus, twenty-two pieces of salty wood, two pieces of false perilla, and one or two pounds of other ingredients. All ingredients are crushed, washed with one-third of the liquor, and the remaining two-thirds used to soak in vinegar and applied around the wound. ("Guangxi Herbal Medicine")
3 Treatment of insect bites: Rub fresh bamboo slough around the wound. ("Guangxi Herbal Medicine")
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