The Tonkin bamboo is native to southern China and is typically grown along the Sui River. Tonkin cane, also known as "Teastick Bamboo" and "Tsinglee Canes".
The Tonkin bamboo is of superior quality and good-looking appearance, widely used in flowers & trees planting and gardening, also can be used to make tables, chairs, book shelves, fences, bird cages, fishing rods, artificial bird nets and other furniture and utensils, and bamboo baskets, screens, flower disks and other crafts. Meanwhile, the Tonkin bamboo is the superior materials for building and paper making.
At the beginning of 19th century, an investigation team investigated the Tonkin bamboo in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, Zhejiang and other provinces, still thought this bamboo growing in Huaiji County of Guangdong Province is of the best quality, as a result, it named as “steel bamboo” and “the king of bamboo”. Later on, USA once plasticized the Tonkin poles fromHuaiji County to be served as parts of the fuel tanks of aircrafts. In 1950s, the Soviet Union made sleighs branded “Kuibyshev” with Tonkin poles from Huaiji County, became fashionable for a time. As a result, in international skiing competitions, it is stipulated to use sleighs made of Tonkin poles from Huaiji County.
Scientifically, the tonkin cane is referred to as Arundinaria amabilis. It means "lovely bamboo." The tree was originally named by Dr. Floyd McClure and was recently renamed to Arundinaria amabilis McClure to honor him.
The tonkin cane grows up to 30 feet (10 m) in height. It features a narrow trunk that is leafless for several dozen feet. The top of the tree has a spreading form, featuring evergreen leaves.
In terms of climate, the natural habitat of the tea stick bamboo is the steep hillsides along the banks of the Sui River. The climate there is tropical and very humid. An average of 6 feet (1.8 m) of rain falls in the region each year. Although the tree is adaptable to heavy rains, it doesn't tolerate standing water.
The soil in which the tea stick bamboo grows in usually has plenty of drainage since it is situated along a slanted hillside. Sandy and loamy soil are adequate for the tea stick bamboo. It can thrive in both acidic and alkaline soil. Generally, the pH range for the soil is between 5.6 and 8.5.
厘竹介绍
厘竹是怀集一带对茶秆竹的俗称，故又称为茶杆竹或青篱竹,一般株高10多米，径粗2-5厘米，大的可达8厘米。茶杆竹属多年生禾本科植物，气候适应性较强，在零下低温也能生长，但更适应于温热湿润、光照多的气候环境。对土壤要求则较高，必须土层深厚、松软，含有机质矿物丰富的酸性沙壤土，海拨高度150-700。
厘竹竹质优良，外形美观，被广泛用于种花，种树，园艺，还可以制作台、椅、书架、屏风、鸟笼、钓杆、禽舍等家具、用具以及花篮、竹画、竹帘、花盘等工艺品，同时也是建筑、造优质纸张的上等材料。
19世纪初，有调查队到广东、广西、云南、福建、浙江等省调查茶秆竹，发现质地最好的还数广东怀集县的坳仔茶秆竹，誊为“钢竹”、“竹中之王”。后来美国曾用怀集坳仔茶秆竹塑化作飞机油箱的零部件。50年代，苏联用怀集坳仔茶秆竹制成“古比雪夫”牌滑雪杆，曾风靡一时，乃至国际滑雪比赛也规定用中国怀集坳仔茶秆竹制作的滑雪杆。
