Data for: Roots originating from different shoot parts are functionally different in running bamboo, Phyllostachys glauca

Running bamboos are a group of clonal plants exhibiting rapid and widespread expansion. They possess two root subsystems, arising from different shoot parts, culm roots and rhizome roots. To date, it remains unclear what the functional differences are between the two root subsystems and what their relation is to the remarkably competitive ability of running bamboos. A typical running bamboo, Phyllostachys glauca, which dominates in a highly heterogenous habitat of limestone hills, was sampled to compare the morphology, architecture, anatomy, chemical composition, mechanics, and nutrient acquisition of the two root subsystems to explore their differences in functional traits. Compared with rhizome roots, culm roots possessed greater tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, stele diameter to root diameter ratio, root tissue density, root length density, rooting depth, basal diameter of shoot-borne roots, and more lignified cells. Culm roots also had a higher phosphorus (P) concentration (..., ,