Mexican weeping bamboo
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox | color = lightgreen | name = Mexican weeping bamboo | image = Otatea acuminata whole.jpg | image_width = 240px | regnum = Plantae | divisio = Magnoliophyta | classis = Liliopsida | ordo = Poales | familia = Poaceae | genus = Otatea | species = O. acuminata | binomial = Otatea acuminata | binomial_authority = (Munro) C.E.Calderón & Soderstr. }}
The Mexican weeping bamboo Otatea acuminata is a clumping bamboo found in Mexico and Central America. It produces thick stands of long narrow leaves.
The Mexican Weeping Bamboo is often used in ornamental gardens. It is somewhat drought tolerant, but benefits from regular watering and feeding. Mexican Weeping Bamboo is easily grown in pots to around 6 feet tall, but will achieve twice that height if planted in the ground. Mexican Weeping Bamboo is easy to propogate be simply dividing the root ball with a sharp spade. A particularly delicate look can be achieved by thinning the culms so that they are spaced a foot or more apart. This allows dappled light to pass through the Mexican Weeping Bamboo, and the plant will sway gracefully in a gentle breeze.
There are several subspecies and varieties:
- ssp. acuminata
- ssp. aztecorum - the most commonly culivated
- 'Dwarf'
- 'Mayan Silver'
- 'Michoacan'