Question
I bought a house last summer and don't know what some of the plants are.  Along the back fence are bamboo-like segmented stalks that are hollow on the inside.  The stalks have wide oval leaves, instead of narrow spear-like ones so I don't think its real bamboo.  Do you have any idea what it is?

Answer
When identifying unknown plants it helps to narrow possibilities with a little additional information such as: region (South, North, East or West), size (how tall and wide), full sun or shade and soil type (wet or dry). Do these plants  develop an umbrella like canopy or do the stalks grow verticle with foliage development along the entire stem? Have you observed any floral or fruiting structures or do they appear barren? Have you noted any rizome or stolon development or are these plants independant of one another? As for the foliage you describe, the leaves are obovate I wonder are the margins of the leaves toothed or smooth? Is there a prominent mid-vein?
The objective is to take an unknown and reveal the identity with a little additional information that will happen.