Schizostachyum helferi

Synonyms: Bambusa helferi Munro, Trans. Linn. Soc. London 26 (1), 1868: 114; type: Myanmar, J. W. Helfer 411 (W. Griffith 6719), Kew Herbarium K000912110; Pseudostachyum helferi (Munro) Kurz, J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist. 42 (4), 1874: 253; Teinostachyum helferi (Munro) Gamble, Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 7, 1896: 102; Neohouzeaua helferi (Munro) Gamble, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1923 (2), 1923: 91.

Thai names: ไผ่เฮียะเครือ (phai hia khruea) (Mae Hong Son); ซอแคยะ (so-khae-ya) (Karen: Mae Hong Son); ทอเคว (tho-kheo), ทอหะไก (tho-ha-kai) (Karen: Northern). — T. Smitinand, 2001 [#1003].

Distribution: THAILAND: Records are not known, but the species is assumed to occur in the provinces of Tak and Kanchanaburi of western Thailand (Classification of Bamboo, 2012, as "Teinostachyum helferi" [#1223]). — MYANMAR: Bago Region, and Mon State. — INDIA (North-East). — BANGLADESH.

Culm size: Length 3–15 m, dia­meter 2.5–4 cm.

Descriptions:

(1) "Evergreen tufted bamboo, forming large impenetrable thickets, sometimes scandent. Culms 6-12 m high and 2.5-3.6 cm diameter, spreading in all directions, grayish green to green when young, much arched so as to bend completely and tough the ground; nodes somewhat inflated and whitish; internodes 0.5-1.25 m long or even more, velvety pubescent in the upper part when young with white band on maturity, walls thin. Culm-sheaths 20-25 cm long, persistent, thick, brittle when young with a few appressed white bristles, sheath-scar persistent, rough towards the base, truncate at the top; imperfect blade nearly as long as sheath, recurved, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous or shortly hispid, rounded at the base and decurrent as a very narrow long fringed band on the top of the sheath; ligule narrow conspicuously fringed with white stiff hairs, 5-8 mm long. Leaves variable in size, oblong-lanceolate, 15-45 cm long and 2.5-7.5 cm broad, unequal at the base and then contracted into 7-10 mm long twisted scabrous point; sheath glabrous, smooth, seriate, ending in a smooth callus and a short very deciduous, long fringed auricle; ligule narrow and fringed. … [flowers and seeds described]." — K. K. Seethalakshmi & al., Bamboos of India, 1998: p. 246 [#1062].

(2) "Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms arching; 300–1500 cm long; 25–40 mm diam.; woody; eventually collapsing and rooting from upper nodes. Culm-internodes terete; thin-walled; 50–125 cm long; grey; distally pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Culm-sheaths persistent; 20–25 cm long; antrorsely scabrous (below); hispid; with appressed hairs; with white hairs; truncate at apex. Culm-sheath ligule 5–7.5 mm high; ciliate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; reflexed; glabrous on surface, or pubescent; acuminate. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base asymmetrical; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.75–1 cm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 15–45 cm long; 25–75 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 14–30 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate. … [flowers and seeds described]." — Kew GrassBase [#1335].

(3) J. S. Gamble, Bambuseae Brit. India, 1896: p. 102, as "Teinostachyum helferi" [#1230].

Images: Line drawing in J. S. Gamble, Bambuseae Brit. India, 1896: pl. 90 [#1230]; in K. K. Seethalakshmi & al., Bamboos of India, 1998: fig. 84, p. 247 [#1062].

Uses: Culms for basketry.