Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo
The Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo tree (Nandina domestica of the Berberidaceae family) is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 10 feet and as wide as 5 feet. It is known as Nandina, Heavenly Bamboo, and Sacred Bamboo. It is known for its white flowers and burgundy red tinting. It has been used as edging in gardening and landscaping. The leaves show a burgundy red color in the fall and change back to a dark green as winter nears. This shrub is native to Asia and was brought to America in 1804. Although the tree contains cyanide which can come off poisonous to some animals, the vibrant, constant changing colors of the Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo tree makes this tree stand out among the landscape of any terrain.
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Quick Facts About the Tree
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Community Surrounding the Tree
After moving to the states from Asia, the shrub has been located is North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. The tree is very tolerant to weather patterns for the most part. Has a very high tolerance to dry humid conditions with a average tolerance to cold weather (Miller, James H. ,"USDA..). If weather patterns are too cold, the tree will loose its leaves. It is located and surrounded by woodland, flood, and plain areas. Is typically in an area surrounded by birds and animals because they are the trees main port of seed transportation (Stone, Katharine R., 2009).
Ethnobotany
After living in parts of China, Japan, northern India, and some states, the tree is known for living in hot dry environments as well as being able to grow in shaded somewhat marshy environments ("Nandina."Wikipedia. , 2013). The roots and stems have been used in the past to treat sickness and disease such as fever in Influenza, whooping cough, and traumatic injuries. It has also been used to help with pain in the muscles and bones of humans. Some reports still stress the fact that the plant is poisonous and to be careful using it to aid even though been said to be harmless to humans. It is also used in landscaping and edging in gardens because of its attractiveness. It is most used for landscaping in Japan. The japanese use the shrub as a ground cover for edging gardens and backyards ("Nandina Domestica Thunb.").
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Current Research
As of right now, there is no current research being preformed on this tree. However there have been past studies about its germination and poisonous affects towards animals. In the late 1980’s early 1990’s, germination tests on the plant were being conducted. The tests were documented in the book The Woody Plant Seed Manual. Clear conditions for seed germination of the shrub were not yet defined. Tests were conducted to see how the plant would germinate and for how long the process would last. The tests would consist of changing different factors such as moisture and whether conditions. It is known today that the plant is very tolerant to an extent of light exposure and temperature. Depending on said conditions, it could take anywhere up to 2 years to germinate (Bonner, F. T., and Robert P. Karrfalt, 2008).
Another report in 2010 was called “Feeding Behavior-Related Toxicity due to Nandina domestica in Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum)”. It was talking about the affects of birds eating the berries of the Heavenly Bamboo tree. The Cedar Waxwings had hemorrhages in their lungs that were caused by eating the only consistent source of food that was readily available to them at that time of the year which was the berries from the Heavenly Bamboo tree. The berries contain cyanide which gave the Waxwings cyanide toxicity which lead to hemorrhages in the throat and soon after that death (Woldemeskel, Moges, and Eloise L. Styer., 2010).
Another report in 2010 was called “Feeding Behavior-Related Toxicity due to Nandina domestica in Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum)”. It was talking about the affects of birds eating the berries of the Heavenly Bamboo tree. The Cedar Waxwings had hemorrhages in their lungs that were caused by eating the only consistent source of food that was readily available to them at that time of the year which was the berries from the Heavenly Bamboo tree. The berries contain cyanide which gave the Waxwings cyanide toxicity which lead to hemorrhages in the throat and soon after that death (Woldemeskel, Moges, and Eloise L. Styer., 2010).
Creative Writing
Sometimes I forget the place that surrounds me here at Chico State. While I am studying for midterms, getting homework assignments done, spending time pledging my fraternity, and balancing a social life, I will sometimes take a deep breathe and enjoy whats around me. This time of year, fall is alive and the trees are showing their true colors. Its almost as if those couple of minutes I take out of my busy day to stop and smell the roses, I find myself attending a plant talent/fashion show and I am the lucky judge.
I remember my last home before coming to college and had two trees that would change color every season and would drop right around this time of year. That is why I enjoy gazing at the Heavenly Bamboo tree. It reminds me of my childhood, simpler days. I would watch these types of trees change color throughout the year subconsciously every time I would go outside to walk to school, get some yard work out of the way, or just play catch with my dad.
I can tell that this tree wants my vote to win the talent/fashion show by the way it catches my attention so effortlessly. I cant help but stare at these shades of burgundy red, and notice how they change from red to purple to green in the course of a year. I then notice something about the trees character I never thought I would see. I see the consistency of holding that evergreen color no matter what the whether. As it is holding that evergreen foundation, it blossoms its flowers and turns different shades of red that compliment the evergreen so easily. I also notice that all Heavenly Bamboo trees are different. They all hold he same evergreen foundation, however their flowers blossom and their colors change in all sorts of ways. That is how I realized the difference between me and a Heavenly Bamboo tree.
I remember my last home before coming to college and had two trees that would change color every season and would drop right around this time of year. That is why I enjoy gazing at the Heavenly Bamboo tree. It reminds me of my childhood, simpler days. I would watch these types of trees change color throughout the year subconsciously every time I would go outside to walk to school, get some yard work out of the way, or just play catch with my dad.
I can tell that this tree wants my vote to win the talent/fashion show by the way it catches my attention so effortlessly. I cant help but stare at these shades of burgundy red, and notice how they change from red to purple to green in the course of a year. I then notice something about the trees character I never thought I would see. I see the consistency of holding that evergreen color no matter what the whether. As it is holding that evergreen foundation, it blossoms its flowers and turns different shades of red that compliment the evergreen so easily. I also notice that all Heavenly Bamboo trees are different. They all hold he same evergreen foundation, however their flowers blossom and their colors change in all sorts of ways. That is how I realized the difference between me and a Heavenly Bamboo tree.
References
Bonner, F. T., Karrfalt, R. P., & United States (2008). The woody plant seed manual. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Byrd, J. D., & Wetbrooks, R. (n.d.). IPAMS - Species Information - Nandina domestica - Sacred bamboo. Retrieved from http://www.gri.msstate.edu/ipams/species.php?CName=Sacred%20bamboo
Miller, J. H. (n.d.). Sacred Bamboo, Nandina. Retrieved from http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/138
Nandina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2013, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandina
Nandina domestica Sacred Bamboo PFAF Plant Database. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nandina+domestica
Seiler, J., Jensen, E., & Niemeiea, A. (2012). Nandina domestica Fact Sheet. Retrieved fromhttp://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=418
Stone, K. R. (2009). Nandina domestica. Retrieved from http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/nandom/all.html
Woldemeskel, M., & Styer, E. L. (2010, November 5). Feeding Behavior-Related Toxicity due to Nandina domestica in Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3005831/
Byrd, J. D., & Wetbrooks, R. (n.d.). IPAMS - Species Information - Nandina domestica - Sacred bamboo. Retrieved from http://www.gri.msstate.edu/ipams/species.php?CName=Sacred%20bamboo
Miller, J. H. (n.d.). Sacred Bamboo, Nandina. Retrieved from http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/news/138
Nandina - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 27, 2013, fromhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nandina
Nandina domestica Sacred Bamboo PFAF Plant Database. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Nandina+domestica
Seiler, J., Jensen, E., & Niemeiea, A. (2012). Nandina domestica Fact Sheet. Retrieved fromhttp://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=418
Stone, K. R. (2009). Nandina domestica. Retrieved from http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/nandom/all.html
Woldemeskel, M., & Styer, E. L. (2010, November 5). Feeding Behavior-Related Toxicity due to Nandina domestica in Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3005831/