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“Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

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Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#21

Post by wccrawford »

radarsat1 wrote: post #2

> Perhaps even more surprising than the long intervals at which they flower is the fact that all plants of the same stock of bamboo will bloom at the same time, and then die, no matter where they are in the world. > Although the mechanism has yet to be explained by science, many believe there is some kind of natural “alarm clock” in the plant’s cells causing the behavior. That is amazing. I'm having a hard time imagi…

It could be that they all bloom when they receive a certain signal from another plant of the same species, and that they will set off that signal after storing up for 130 years after the last bloom. So even new plants will receive the signal and bloom, but the trigger takes 130 years to re-arm.

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#22

Post by nwhatt »

wodenokoto wrote: post #9

Bamboo blossom is a super interesting botanical fact, and a regular front-pager on Reddits "Today I learned" > For example, devastating consequences occur when the Melocanna bambusoides population flowers and fruits once every 30–35 years[6] around the Bay of Bengal. The death of the bamboo plants following their fruiting means the local people lose their building material, and the large increase in bamboo fruit lead…

Possibly one of the best Nova titles ever - "Rat Attack" follows this phenomenon: https://www.pbs.org/video/nova-rat-attack/

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#23

Post by kaybe »

> And if you feel discouraged by the notion that they are bad omens, why not consider the silver lining: While it's true that the flowers signal the death of the plant, they also symbolize new beginnings, since those who rely on supercentenarian species like madake can eventually expect a fresh, healthy and abundant supply of new shoots which will last for a very long time.

This would fit very well with the notion that starting a new era also means a new start. (It might make people a little eager to overreport I suspect.)

(Before Meiji era, Japanese emperors used to routinely proclaim new eras when some notable event happened or they just felt change was needed. Common reasons are big earthquakes and other natural desasters, for example, but there also eras that were started over the sighting of a white or red bird or the find of a gold mining spot (it actually turned out not to be). (The mean era length is something like 5 years.))

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#24

Post by pas »

wodenokoto wrote: post #8
pas wrote: post #5

> Perhaps even more surprising than the long intervals at which they flower is the fact that all plants of the same stock of bamboo will bloom at the same time, and then die, [...] What? I thought bamboo is a fast growing thing, and it's easy to grow bamboo. Just stick it into the soil in the right conditions and it'll sprout roots and grow. (It can even be grown from seeds.)

Growing and flowering are two different things. As the article mentions, some types of bamboo will flower only once every 100 odd years. When they do, they pollenate each-other and grow fruits and die. In some parts of the world rats will feasts on these fruits, and rodent populations will explode, contributing to the "Bad Omen". > Just stick it into the soil in the right conditions When all the bamboo decides to flo…

> When all the bamboo decides to flower and die at the same time, what exactly are you planning to stick in the ground?

Hm, maybe keep saplings inside when you see the flowers growing?

Or try to cut off the flowers to prevent the die-off?

Okay, maybe that's a lot of work, and no one prepared for that?

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#25

Post by taneq »

radarsat1 wrote: post #2

> Perhaps even more surprising than the long intervals at which they flower is the fact that all plants of the same stock of bamboo will bloom at the same time, and then die, no matter where they are in the world. > Although the mechanism has yet to be explained by science, many believe there is some kind of natural “alarm clock” in the plant’s cells causing the behavior. That is amazing. I'm having a hard time imagi…

Telomeres?

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#26

Post by magic_beans »

nwhatt wrote: post #22
wodenokoto wrote: post #9

Bamboo blossom is a super interesting botanical fact, and a regular front-pager on Reddits "Today I learned" > For example, devastating consequences occur when the Melocanna bambusoides population flowers and fruits once every 30–35 years[6] around the Bay of Bengal. The death of the bamboo plants following their fruiting means the local people lose their building material, and the large increase in bamboo fruit lead…

Possibly one of the best Nova titles ever - "Rat Attack" follows this phenomenon: https://www.pbs.org/video/nova-rat-attack/

Video not available in my area! But why!? Have the rights expired for US viewers??

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#27

Post by Ma8ee »

cmrdporcupine wrote: post #16
radarsat1 wrote: post #2

> Perhaps even more surprising than the long intervals at which they flower is the fact that all plants of the same stock of bamboo will bloom at the same time, and then die, no matter where they are in the world. > Although the mechanism has yet to be explained by science, many believe there is some kind of natural “alarm clock” in the plant’s cells causing the behavior. That is amazing. I'm having a hard time imagi…

I don't know the exact mechanism (it sounds like nobody does) but remember these are clonally propagated (until they flower, which I presume creates seeds). So most of the entire population is actually one genetic "individual". So the 'alarm clock' must be tied to the original genetic signature.

No, there's no reason to believe they are only one genetic individual. Just because many are clones, there's no reason to believe they all are clones from the same original plant.

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#28

Post by borumpilot »

magic_beans wrote: post #26
nwhatt wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Possibly one of the best Nova titles ever - "Rat Attack" follows this phenomenon: https://www.pbs.org/video/nova-rat-attack/

Video not available in my area! But why!? Have the rights expired for US viewers??

It is right under the video:

Aired: 02/24/09 - Expired: 12/15/15

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#29

Post by _ph_ »

pas wrote: post #5

> Perhaps even more surprising than the long intervals at which they flower is the fact that all plants of the same stock of bamboo will bloom at the same time, and then die, [...] What? I thought bamboo is a fast growing thing, and it's easy to grow bamboo. Just stick it into the soil in the right conditions and it'll sprout roots and grow. (It can even be grown from seeds.)

I am growing bamboo for quite a while, and at least for the kinds which survive in European climate, you cannot cause a cut off part to sprout roots. But as bamboo is spreading via the roots, you can just cut off parts and replant it.

Re: “Once-in-a-Hundred Year” Sightings of Bamboo Blossoms Reported in Japan

#30

Post by _ph_ »

At the end of the 90ies, most specimen of Fargesia blossomed and died in Europe. One big contributor was, that basically they were descendant of very few, if not a single plant brought to Europe around the year 1900. With a more "natural" population, the blossoms shouldn't be that much of a big hit. I am also surprised that Phyllostachys is said to die - all literature I knew claimed that the death after blossom is limited to Fargesia.
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