Abstract:

Bamboo culm consists of vascular bundles and parenchyma, and vascular bundles determine mainly the strength of a bamboo culm. Vascular bundle is also an important connection of the microscopic properties and the macroscopic properties of bamboo culm. This paper accurately measured the area of a Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) vascular bundle by using the Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope(LCSM), and studied the area variation of inner and outer vascular bundles. The results showed that the area values were between 0.038 3 and 0.246 2 mm²; the vascular bundles could be divided into outer layers and inner layers according to morphology from outside to inside of bamboo wall; the area of the outer vascular bundle increased with the increasing size, while inner vascular bundle had no change.

Key words: Moso bamboo(Phyllostachys edulis), vascular bundle, area, Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope