Development and structure of the terminal layer in bamboo culms

In bamboo, the inner lining of the culm wall towards the lacuna is designated as a terminal layer. It develops during culm elongation by separation of pith cells. Subsequently, these cells collapse thus forming a skin-like structure to be attached to a transition layer of the culm wall. The transition layer between the skin-like structure and the ground tissue consists of a few cell rows of mostly radially and axially shortened cells with often thickened walls. Both the skin-like structure and the transition layer exhibit structural differences between species. These characteristics of the inner culm wall have significance for culm seasoning and especially for the diffusion treatment with preservatives.