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Qiongzhuea tumidissinoda WALKING STICK BAMBOO, QIONG ZHU a running bamboo to 20' tall with culms to about an inch thick. It became famous far back in Chinese history for providing the "Quongshu walking stick," a badge of distinction used by scholars, philosophers and digintaries. It is distinguished by lush, verdant foliage and unusual swollen culm joints, similar to those of the closely related Chimonobambusa quadrangularis but larger. It likes humid, cloudforest-like environments, with high rainfall, humusy, acidic soils, and at least some shade. It is a relatively benign runner, and yes, you can still use it for making walking sticks. It is also a first rate producer of edible shoots, to the extent that it is reportedly endangered in its very small native range. Grow it in rich soil high in organic material, with mulch and with at least average watering. It is also great in containers but appreciates peat moss in the mix. China. Graminea/Poaceae. rev 3/2006