Study on Physical and Chemical Characteristics of Culms of Cold Resistance Sympodial Bamboo,Bambusa textilis var. fasca

The physical and chemical characteristics of culms of Bambusa textilis var. fasca were measured, and a comparative analysis with Phyllostachys edulis, B. textilis and Dendrocalamopsis oldhami were made. The results showed that the average basic density, air-dried density and oven-dried density of B. textilis var. fasca among different ages changed in the ranges of 0.523~0.632 g·cm-3, 0.656~0.801 g·cm-3 and 0.658~0.777 g·cm-3 respectively. The density of B. textilis var. fasca increased with age. The basic density of B. textilis var. fasca with the age over 3 years was lower than that of reference P. edulis and B. textilis, but higher than that of D. oldhami. The average air-dried volume and oven-dried volume shrinkage ratio of B. textilis var. fasca with the age over 3 years were 9.6% and 13.6% respectively, which were higher than that of P. edulis. The radial shrinkage of B. textilis var. fasca was greater than tangential shrinkage and portrait shrinkage. The average ash content of B. textilis var. fasca with the age over 3 years was less than that of D. oldhami and B. textilis, but the average lignin content of B. textilis var. fasca with the age over 3 years was similar to that of B. textilis and less than that of D. oldhami. The holocellulose content of B. textilis var. fasca was more than 80%. The average content of pentosan, hot water extracts and 1%NaOH extracts of B. textilis var. fasca with the age over 3 years were also greater than that of D. oldhami and B. textilis. But the average content of benzene-alcohol extracts of B. textilis var. fasca with the age over 3 years was less than that of D. oldhami and B. textilis. Therefore it is suitable for B. textilis var. fasca to be used for pulpwood.