✵This article documents the herb Bamboo Shavings, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—three plant species: (1) Bambusa tuldoides Munro, (2) Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf., and (3) Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P. F. Li—with detailed descriptions of the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these species; as well as the macroscopic characteristics of Bamboo Shavings, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam (Bamboo Shavings)
Pinyin Name: Zhú Rú
English Name: Bamboo Shavings
Latin Name:Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam Properties and Flavor: Slightly cold, sweet
Brief Introduction:Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam is the dried shavings obtained from the stems of Bambusa tuldoides Munro, Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P. F. Li, or Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf. It clears heat, resolves phlegm, calms the mind, and suppresses vomiting—used for cough or insomnia due to phlegm-heat, and vomiting caused by stomach heat. It is commonly known as Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam, Bamboo Shavings, or Zhu Ru.
Botanical Source:Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam (Bamboo Shavings) is the dried shavings derived from the stems of Bambusa tuldoides Munro, Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P. F. Li, or Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf.—all belonging to the genus Bambusa Retz. corr. Schreber (Poaceae family, order Poales).
Classical herbal works define Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam (Bamboo Shavings) as the dried stem shavings of: (1) Bambusa tuldoides Munro, (2) Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf., and (3) Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P. F. Li. These three commonly used species are described below:
(1) Bambusa tuldoides Munro.
Botanical Description:Bambusa tuldoides Munro is also known as Qing Gan Zhu or Green Stem Bamboo. The plant is lignified and arborescent. It grows in clumps, is unarmed, and has erect or nearly erect culms that reach up to 15 meters in height and 6 cm in diameter. The culm apex is not drooping; nodes are multi-branched; internodes are cylindrical, and both the culm internodes and the sheaths surrounding the nodes are smooth and glabrous.
Ecological Environment:Bambusa tuldoides Munro grows on flat land and hills.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is irregularly filamentous or thin band-shaped, often curled, twisted, tangled, or resembling wood shavings; pieces vary in size, 0.5–0.7 cm wide and 0.3–0.5 cm thick. The whole herb is yellowish-white, pale green, bluish-yellow, grayish-yellow-green, yellowish-green, or golden; the surface is coarse and bears longitudinal striations. The fracture surface exhibits pronounced fibrous texture. The herb is light in weight, tough, and flexible. It has a slight fragrance and a mildly sweet taste.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Increases urinary chloride excretion; (2) Elevates blood glucose levels; (3) Antibacterial effect: the herb powder exhibits strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhi in agar diffusion assays.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and resolves phlegm; calms restlessness and suppresses vomiting. Indicated for phlegm-heat cough, liver-fire invading the stomach with phlegm, irritability with nausea and vomiting, palpitations with anxiety, insomnia, apoplexy with phlegmatic obstruction and coma, stiff tongue and aphonia, stomach-heat-induced vomiting, pregnancy-related nausea, and threatened abortion (fetal agitation).
Administration of Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam (Zhú Rú):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam (Zhú Rú)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 4.5–9 grams; (2) water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (≈4.5–9 grams), Externally: p(appropriate amount), prepared as an ointment for topical application. (3) water decoction, 5–10 grams; or finely powdered herb formulated into pills or powders. Externally: proper amount, prepared as an ointment for topical application.
(2) Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf.
Botanical Description:Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf is also known as Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd. ex Lindl.) Munro var. henonis (Mitf.) Stapf et Rendle. It is commonly called Dan Zhu (Light Bamboo), Mao Jin Zhu, or Bai Jia Zhu. The plant is lignified and arborescent. Culms are 6–18 m tall and 5–7 cm in diameter; they turn green upon maturation and become celadon (sage green or grayish-green) with age. Culm rings and sheath rings are prominent. The culm sheaths surrounding the nodes are glabrous on the abaxial surface, while the adaxial surface may bear minute trichomes (mucilaginous); sheaths are yellowish-green to yellowish, with grayish-black spots and stripes. Sheath auricles and their setae are readily deciduous. Sheath blades are long-lanceolate and wrinkled, with a constricted base. Branchlets bear 1–5 leaves; leaf sheath mouths are glabrous; leaf blades are dark green and glabrous, narrowly lanceolate, 1–2 cm wide, with 6–8 pairs of secondary veins, and are thin.
Spikelets are arranged in imbricate panicles; each spikelet contains 2–3 florets, though the two apical florets may be degenerate; there are 1–2 glumes, lanceolate and pubescent; the lower palea is acuminate and pilose; the palea apex is bifid, mucilaginous, and 12–15 mm long; lemmas vary in number (3–1 or absent), lanceolate, ~3 mm long.
Anthers are 7–10 mm long; at anthesis, filaments elongate markedly, causing the anthers to hang beyond the flowers. The ovary is pointed-ovate; the style is terminal and elongated, ~7 mm total length, with three stigmas ~5 mm long, brush-like. Shoot emergence occurs from April to May; flowering occurs from October to May.
Ecological Environment:Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf is commonly cultivated in gardens.
Growth Characteristics: The plant prefers warm, humid climates and is sensitive to cold and strong winds. Optimal planting sites include sheltered, sunny slopes or gently sloping, level fields near villages with adequate water supply. It does not thrive in infertile or heavy soils; instead, it grows best in moist, fertile, well-drained, neutral to slightly acidic or slightly alkaline sandy loam.
(3) Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P. F. Li.
Botanical Description:Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P. F. Li is also known as Bambusa beecheyana Munro var. pubescens P. F. Li or Dendrocalamopsis beecheyana (Munro) Keng f. var. pubescens (P. F. Li) Keng f. It is commonly called Da Tou Dian Zhu or Da Tou Tian Zhu. The plant is lignified and arborescent. Culms grow up to 15 meters tall, somewhat zigzag; young culms are pilose and typically bear hairy rings at the nodes below the mid-culm region; internodes are generally shorter. The abaxial surface of the culm sheath is sparsely covered with blackish-brown, appressed, prorsal bristles. The base of the sheath auricle is narrowed. The ligule is elongated, ~5 mm long. Spikelets are usually straw-yellow; the abaxial surface of the palea is pilose, with a prominent ridge bearing longer, densely arranged marginal setae. Leaf sheaths are typically pilose; the paraphyll is elongated; the abaxial surface of the lower palea is sparsely pilose. Flowering occurs from March to May; shoot emergence occurs from June to July.
Ecological Environment:Sinocalamus beecheyanus grows on hill slopes, flat land, and roadsides.
✵This article documents the herb Bamboo Shavings, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—three plant species: (1) Bambusa tuldoides Munro, (2) Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf., and (3) Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P. F. Li—with detailed descriptions of the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these species; as well as the macroscopic characteristics of Bamboo Shavings, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Zhú Rú
Botanical Description: Bambusa tuldoides Munro is also known as Qing Gan Zhu or Green Stem Bamboo. The plant is lignified and arborescent. It grows in clumps, is unarmed, and has erect or nearly erect culms that reach up to 15 meters in height and 6 cm in diameter. The culm apex is not drooping; nodes are multi-branched; internodes are cylindrical, and both the culm internodes and the sheaths surrounding the nodes are smooth and glabrous.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is irregularly filamentous or thin band-shaped, often curled, twisted, tangled, or resembling wood shavings; pieces vary in size, 0.5–0.7 cm wide and 0.3–0.5 cm thick. The whole herb is yellowish-white, pale green, bluish-yellow, grayish-yellow-green, yellowish-green, or golden; the surface is coarse and bears longitudinal striations. The fracture surface exhibits pronounced fibrous texture. The herb is light in weight, tough, and flexible. It has a slight fragrance and a mildly sweet taste.
Ecological Environment: Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis Stapf is commonly cultivated in gardens.
Botanical Description: Sinocalamus beecheyanus (Munro) McClure var. pubescens P. F. Li is also known as Bambusa beecheyana Munro var. pubescens P. F. Li or Dendrocalamopsis beecheyana (Munro) Keng f. var. pubescens (P. F. Li) Keng f. It is commonly called Da Tou Dian Zhu or Da Tou Tian Zhu. The plant is lignified and arborescent. Culms grow up to 15 meters tall, somewhat zigzag; young culms are pilose and typically bear hairy rings at the nodes below the mid-culm region; internodes are generally shorter. The abaxial surface of the culm sheath is sparsely covered with blackish-brown, appressed, prorsal bristles. The base of the sheath auricle is narrowed. The ligule is elongated, ~5 mm long. Spikelets are usually straw-yellow; the abaxial surface of the palea is pilose, with a prominent ridge bearing longer, densely arranged marginal setae. Leaf sheaths are typically pilose; the paraphyll is elongated; the abaxial surface of the lower palea is sparsely pilose. Flowering occurs from March to May; shoot emergence occurs from June to July.
Ecological Environment: Sinocalamus beecheyanus grows on hill slopes, flat land, and roadsides.
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