Kurochiku (black bamboo) - Kurochiku (English spelling) black bamboo

Japanese: クロチク(黒竹) - クロチク（英語表記）black bamboo

A type of bamboo in the grass family. The black culm is unusual and eye-catching. It is medium-sized and distributed throughout the country, but its main habitat is Kure, Nakatosa-cho, Kochi Prefecture, and Hidaka-cho, Wakayama Prefecture. It is also found in China and Taiwan. It is a member of the bamboo family, and is probably a variation within the same species. The color of the culm is green when it first grows, but from autumn onwards the amount of melanin increases and it turns black. The shade and rate of change of color vary depending on the location, and in sunny, dry areas it becomes a vivid black. The culm is flexible, so it is used for fishing rods and as a material for crafts.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

イネ科のタケ類の1種。稈（かん）の黒色は珍しく，人の目をひきつける。中型で，分布は各地にわたるが，主産地は高知県中土佐町久礼と和歌山県日高町である。中国や台湾にも産する。ハチクの仲間であり，多分同種内の変異と考えられる。稈の色が生えたては緑色であるが，秋ごろからメラニン色素が増えて黒色に変わる。色の濃淡や変り方は，立地によって違い，日当りのよい乾燥地では鮮やかな黒色となる。稈のたわみぐあいがよいので釣りざおに用い，また工芸品の素材とする。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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