A Common Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) clump, situated along a hiking trail in the Bamboo Cathedral, Chaguaramas, north Trinidad, West Indies was spotted flowering during the onset of the dry season in January 2022. The Common Bamboo is known to live for over 150 years, flower sporadically, then die. Therefore, this observation was a once in a lifetime event for many hikers/mountain riders experiencing the phenomena. Unfortunately, most of the flowers dropped before observations were taken, however, thousands of brown feathery grass-like inflorescence were clearly seen.
Numerous fauna was spotted interacting with the flowers and caryopsis (grains) of the Common Bamboo, particularly, flying insects. Bambusa vulgaris grains are sterile and hence are incapable of producing seedlings. The grains carpet the forest floor and will add to the soil fertility in the area.
