The name has nothing to do with fish, simply the initials of person first found in possession of this plant. Discovered at a fair in southern California. P. a. koi after a few months turns yellow with a green sulcas, some what like bambasoides ' Castillonis' except with the distorted lower nodes, very beautiful. Grows quite straight with little lean out of clump. Makes for a nice hedge.
Shoots are very good.
Not at all for this beautiful lemon yellow culmed bamboo. Spectabilis is the flip of the species having a green sulcas, the new culms will stain rosy red when exposed to sun. Very erect growth. Culms are green for first 6 months molting to black. Prune lower portion of culm to show off the beauty.