More than a century ago the… Japan witnessed a rare and surprising event: the flowering of a unique species of bamboo known as Phyllostachys nigra henonis.
This event, which only occurs once every 120 years, has been brought to light Concerns about its ecological impact and the continued existence of such a species.
A rare event
The last major flowering of this bamboo took place in 1908, the next one is planned for 2028. However, researchers at Hiroshima University discovered “mismatched” populations that were blooming outside the predicted cycle.
The phenomenon of Japanese black bamboo flowering is fascinating because the plant only flowers once in its life, after most of the population has died off.
This particular cycle led scientists to study the plant’s reproductive process: although 80% of them flowered in 2020, none of them produced viable seeds.
This raises the possibility that the species is not as dependent sexual reproduction for its life cycle.
Toshihiro Yamada, a member of the research group responsible for the study, said:
“Bamboo does not produce viable seeds that can germinate. “There was no sign of regeneration of this bamboo after it flowered after the first three years,” explains the expert.
Ecological impacts
Phyllostachys nigra henonis bamboo covers about 170,000 hectares in Japan. Although this area represents only a fraction of this total, the ecological impact of the next bloom could be significant.
The long period between the death of one generation and the growth of the next can last more than three years, during which many bamboo forests turn into grasslands.
Several animal species rely on bamboo forests for protection, and such environments are critical to preventing flooding as they help “repair” the soil.
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Toshihiro Yamada pointed out that Japan may have to deal with this drastic change after the next bloom, which requires careful ecological planning.
Bamboo has historical, economic and cultural significance in this country and throughout Asia and is essential for various applications, including food. pandaGiant in China.
The phenomenon of the rare bamboo flower is not limited to this particular variant. Other bamboo species such as Phyllostachys Bamboosoides also have long flowering times, sometimes lasting up to 120 years.
Against this backdrop, the conservation of bamboo and its ecosystems is a growing concern for scientists and conservationists.