Culm form analysis for bamboo, Phyllostachys pubescens

Abstract

We investigated the culm form for one of the largest bamboo species, Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex Houz. in relation to the mechanical constraint principles, i.e., elastic, stress and geometric similarity. The fine-resolution analysis of the culm taper indicated that the culm for P. pubescens consisted of three or four segments with various forms, except for the butt swell. This implied that the taper of the whole culm for P. pubescens could be expressed by neither of these principles. The regression slope between culm height and diameter at breast height on the double logarithmic coordinates was 0.629, which was significantly different from the values predicted from these principles. In conclusion, none of these mechanical constraint principles can express the culm taper and height-diameter relationship, and there may be a need for a more complicated model to express the culm form for P. pubescens.

Keywords

culm taper / fine-resolution analysis / height-diameter relationship / mechanical constraint principle / Phyllostachys pubescens

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