Thyrsostachys oliveri
Thyrsostachys oliveri Gamble, Indian Forester 20, 1894: 1; Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 7, 1896: 58.
Thyrsostachys oliveri: Apex of a culm-leaf in a young culm, showing inconspicuous auricles, an erect triangular blade, and an about 1 cm high convex-rounded junction of the sheath with the blade (left, BS-0002-1_S2_010a); dull olive green internode of a young culm, showing removable whitish fuzz (right, BS-0002-2_S6_011a)
Type: 9 specimens of J. W. Oliver, s.n., Upper Burma, 1891/1892 (K), none of them designated as the type. — KewScience POWO, accessed 6 Nov. 2020 [#1305]. — Lectotype: K000854869, designated by Kumari, 2019, and by S. Sungkaew & al., 2021: 51–53 [#1358].
Thai names: ไผ่รวกดำ (phai ruak dam) / 'pʰàj 'rûːak 'dam /, ไผ่รวใหญ่ (phai ruak yai) (Northern); ว่าบอซู (wa-bo-su) (Karen: Mae Hong Son); สะหลอน (sa-lon) (Shan: Northern); เปา (pao) (Shan: Northern). — T. Smitinand, 2001 [#1003]; BKF [#1368].
Burmese name: "Thanawa"; Kachin name: "Maitong".
English name: Oliver Bamboo.
Distribution: THAILAND (North), native, wild and cultivated, also cultivated in other parts of Thailand; in mixed deciduous forest, 700–1,300 m altitude. — MYANMAR (North). — INDIA (North, North-East), cultivated. — LAOS. — CHINA (South): Southern Yunnan, only cultivated, not native (王平元 pers. comm., WeChat 31 Oct., 2 Nov. 2020). — Introduced and cultivated in several countries of tropical and subtropical Asia.
Local distribution: In Chiang Mai, this species is reported to grow wild in the Doi Suthep – Doi Pui National Park (not seen).
Culm size: Height 10–15 (25) m, diameter 5–8 cm.
Descriptions:
(1) "A large cæspitose bamboo with straight culms from a thick rootstock. Culms 50 to 80 ft. [15–24 m] high, 2 to 2·5 in. [5–6.4 cm] in diameter, bright green with whitish silky down when young, dull green or yellowish when old; nodes very little thickened; internodes 16 to 24 in. [40–61 cm] long, walls rather thin. Culm-sheaths somewhat thin, imbricating at the base, above three-fourth of the length of the internodes, green when young, then turning orange and finally brown, persistent, clothed on the back with thick white stiff pubescence, somewhat rounded at top, but then cut off to a breadth of 1 to 1·2 in. [2.5–3.0 cm], ciliate at the edges, not auricled, though slightly produced; imperfect blade long, recurved, subulate, acuminate, hairy above, 8 to 9 in. [20–23 cm] long by ·7 in. [1.8 cm] broad; ligule ·1 in. [2.5 mm] broad, serrate. Leaves light green, linear-lanceolate, acuminate; 7 to 8 in. [17–20 cm] long, ·5 to ·7 in. [1.3–1.8 cm] broad, rounded at the base into a short (·1 to ·2 in. [2.5–5 mm]) petiole; somewhat rough on both sides, hairy beneath, scabrous on the edges, those of young plants broader, more hairy below and bearing long, bulbous-based, strigose hairs above; main veins narrow, secondary veins 6 pairs, intermediate 5 to 7, no regular transverse veinlets, but frequent irregular pellucid dots instead; leaf-sheaths striate, hairy, keeled, ending in glabrous or hairy ciliate calluses and slightly produced at the mouth, ciliate at the edges; ligule short, truncate, pubescent. … [flowers and seeds described] … this species is readily recognized by the other [Thyrsostachys siamensis] by its larger size in all respects. …" — J. S. Gamble, Bambuseae Brit. India, 1896: p. 58–59 [#1230].
(2) "Culms 10–20(–25) m tall, 5–7.5 cm in diameter, covered with appressed white hairs when young, becoming glabrous when mature; internodes initially bright green, becoming dull green, 30–60 cm long; walls rather thick, particularly from lower internodes; nodes slightly prominent. Culm leaves relatively persistent, ca ¾ as long as the internodes, chartaceous; culm-leaf sheaths 20–35.5 × 10–25.5 cm, apex somewhat truncate or rounded to convex, 2–9 cm wide, back covered with appressed white to pale brown hairs; ligules 0.5–2.5 mm high, margin ciliolate; culm-leaf blades erect to slightly arched, deltoid to linear-lanceolate, 7.5–25 × 1.5–8 cm, base ca ½–⅔ width of the sheath apex, pubescent. Foliage leaves 5–7 per branchlet; pseudo-petioles 0.05–0.5 cm long; foliage-leaf sheaths 3–5.5 cm long, abaxially hairy to glabrous, margins ciliate; auricles absent, fimbriae and oral setae absent; ligules short, ca 0.5 mm high, margin ciliolate; foliage-leaf blades linear-lanceolate, (10–)12–22.5 × (0.7–)1–1.8 cm, adaxially scaberulous and hairy abaxially, to glabrous on both sides, base somewhat obliquely cuneate, apex acuminate. Pseudospikelets 1.5–2.5 cm long; bracts subtending prophyllate bud 2 or 3; empty glumes 1 or 2, rarely 3, 0.5–1.2 cm long, apex acute, margins entire or ciliolate towards the apex, chartaceous, 11–21-nerved, back pubescent to glabrous. Fertile florets 2–6(–7); rachilla internodes between fertile florets 1–3 mm long, scantly hairy to glabrous; lemmas similar to the glumes, 0.9–2.5 cm long, apex acute, margins ciliolate towards the apex, 9–29-nerved, abaxially slightly pubescent to glabrous; paleas membranous to thinly chartaceous, hairy abaxially, usually as long as or slightly shorter than the lemmas, apex obtuse to bifid for ¼–⅓ of its length, 2-keeled, keels ciliate, 5–7-nerved between keels and 2–4-nerved between each keel and the ciliate and involute margin; lodicules 2 or 3, conspicuous, membranaceous, ovate to lanceolate, 1–1.2 mm long, margin ciliate; anthers 5–6 mm long, apices acute to apiculate, glabrous; ovaries hairy to glabrous, style ca 1.5 cm long, stigmas 3. Caryopses ca 1 cm long, glabrous." — S. Sungkaew & al., Thai For. Bull. (Bot.) 49(1), 2021: 51 [#1358].
(3) Kew GrassBase [#1335].
(4) Flora of China [#1303].
Characteristics (distinguishing vegetative characteristics between Thyrsostachys oliveri and Thyrsostachys siamensis): Culm height usually taller and culm diameter usually thicker in Thyrsostachys oliveri compared to Thyrsostachys siamensis. Culm-internodes of young culms densely covered with whitish fuzz, dull olive green in Thyrsostachys oliveri, glabrous or initially thinly covered with white fuzz on the upper part, glossy mid-green to dark-green in Thyrsostachys siamensis. In culm-leaves of Thyrsostachys oliveri, the junction between the sheath and the blade is a convex arc with a usual arc height of about 2–10 mm, rarely horizontal (arc height = 0), and rarely up to 15 mm high. In culm-leaves of Thyrsostachys siamensis, the junction between the sheath and the blade is a steep convex arc with an arc height usually more than 15 mm, sometimes a few cm high.
Images: Line drawing in Flora of China. Photos in AsianFlora (culm, leaves) [#1332]; in S. Sungkaew & al., 2021: fig. 1A–C (apex of young shoot, flowering branches) [#1358].
Uses: Shoots for food (shoots emerge late); culms for construction, paper pulp, furniture, handicrafts; plants as ornamentals and for windbreaks.
Flowering cycle: 48–50 years [#1302]; 48 years [#1320]. Flowering events recorded from India: 1881, 1940, 1987–1988. The next flowering event could be in the 2030s.
Seed weight: ≈15,000–18,000 seeds/kg → ≈15–18 seeds/g [#1302].
Seed viability: 1–2 years if stored at low temperatures.
Comments 1 (on distinguishing vegetative characteristics between Thyrsostachys oliveri and Thyrsostachys siamensis):
(1) The key to differentiating between Thyrsostachys oliveri and Thyrsostachys siamensis (in S. Sungkaew & al., 2021: 51 [# 1358]) contains only one vegetative character, namely the size of the leaf blades: Foliage-leaf blades 10–22.5 × 0.7–1.8 cm → T. oliveri; 5–15 × 0.3–0.7 cm → T. siamensis. In addition to the difference in the size of the leaves, differences in the size of other parts of the two species are also described, for example, culm height, culm diameter, pseudospikelets, whereby T. oliveri has significantly larger characteristics. Gamble had already pointed out the size difference as a key distinguishing feature between the two species: "... this species [T. oliveri] is readily recognized by the other [T. siamensis] by its larger size in all respects." (J. S. Gamble, 1896: p. 59 [# 1230]). However, is it really that easy to identify species based on size differences? I have no doubt that the herbarium material in Kew, selected as the lectotype and isolectotypes, verifies the size difference. I also think it is likely that the size differences of the two species in their natural distribution areas largely correspond to the size differences described. But what about plants that are cultivated outside of their natural range? In addition, I do not think it is unrealistic to assume that both species, which are extremely useful to humans, have been selected over the past centuries, among other preferences selected by culm height. Furthermore, it is to be expected that the species will develop different culm sizes outside their natural range under different growth conditions (more favorable as well as less favorable growth conditions). The culm size and the leaf size, considered alone or together, would hardly provide sufficiently reliable distinguishing features between species in plants kept in culture.
(2) In addition to the culm and leaf size, the indument of the culm-internodes is occasionally mentioned as a distinguishing feature of the two species. The culms of T. oliveri have been described as "… with whitish silky down when young …" (J. S. Gamble, 1896: 58 [#1230]), and as "… covered with appressed white hairs when young …" (S. Sungkaew & al., 2021: 51 [#1358]). While Gamble's description of T. siamensis does not contain any information about the indument of the culms or culm-internodes, S. Sungkaew & al. describe the culms in the same way as T. oliveri: "… covered with appressed white hairs when young …" (S. Sungkaew & al., 2021: 54 [#1358]). In general, it may be questionable whether the indument is even suitable as a species-differentiator. However, there appear to be significant differences in the indument between the two species.
(3) A total of more than 50 specimens at Bambusetum Baan Sammi could be assigned to the genus Thyrsostachys, of which 16 were still kept as living plants in 2010 [as of August 2022, only seven living specimens remained for further observation at Bambusetum Baan Sammi]. All of these are listed here, and descriptions of the vegetative characteristics of several of them have been added. In addition, I was able to observe numerous representatives of this genus in rural and urban areas of Chiang Mai; most or even all of them were planted. An unequivocal assignment to one of the two species was and has not been possible for me. All of these specimens can be grouped as follows:
(4) Group 1: The specimens are adult or nearly adult plants and reach culm heights that correspond to the heights of T. oliveri and/or T. siamensis. In contrast, the leaf sizes of all specimens consistently correspond to those of T. siamensis. In other words, specimens that can be assumed to be T. oliveri due to their tall height have only small leaf blades. The culm internodes are covered with whitish fuzz (which can easily be wiped off with a finger). These specimens are listed here under T. oliveri. They come from Thailand, and the flowers and seeds are not known.
(5) Group 2: These are two specimens of supposedly tall plants from Thailand that have flowered, but the flower was not available; only seeds were obtained. The plants grown from the seeds have not yet been large enough to make any statements about their characteristics. These two specimens are listed here under T. oliveri.
(6) Group 3: These are plants raised from seeds, but the plants have not yet been large enough to describe their characteristics in detail. The seeds were received from China under the most bizarre names and with dubious indications of origin or lack of origin. It has been found that most, if not all of them represent a single species that is very similar to T. oliveri. They are provisionally listed under this species. When young, the culms are covered with soft white hairs (not wipeable fuzz as in group 1). The leaves correspond in size to those of T. oliveri. From these specimens, three living plants were selected, which remained at Bambusetum Baan Sammi for further observation [as of August 2022, only two living specimens remained for further observation].
(7) Group 4: This group includes about five specimens from Thailand, obtained as living plants or as seeds. None of the specimens has already reached its maximum size. The leaf size corresponds to that of T. siamensis. Two specimens have glabrous culms and a culm-leaf sheath apex with a very steep curvature. No statement can be made about the other specimens, as the plants are still too small. All these specimens are listed here under T. siamensis.
(8) Group 5: These are the Thyrsostachys species that have been observed in areas outside of Bambusetum Baan Sammi. Their characteristics largely correspond to those of Group 1. The culms are so different in height that an assignment to T. oliveri or T. siamensis seems difficult. The one-year-old culms are covered with white fuzz, but it has repeatedly been observed that some internodes of a particular culm within a clump have developed fuzz while other internodes remain without any fuzz. The leaf size could not be observed or measured in detail, but the leaf size consistently corresponds more to that of T. siamensis than of T. oliveri.
Comments 2:
(1) Plants named by local people as ไผ่รวกแดง (phai ruak daeng), ไผ่รวกบ้าน (phai ruak ban), and ไผ่รวกป่า (phai ruak pa), clearly belong to the genus Thyrsostachys. Whether or not there are distinguishing characteristics is currently not clear. The name phai ruak daeng (daeng = red) might refer to the sheath color of young culms, of which the lower ones are reddish green. Phai ruak ban (ban = house, village) is a tall bamboo often found planted in villages. Phai ruak pa (pa = wood, forest) is from the wild and was planted on the bamboo collection site of the Royal Project, Huai Hong Khrai (ห้วยฮ่องไคร้) Study Center, A. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai Province, where it actually grows less tall and less thick than their other plants of Thyrsostachys. Whether these names can be assigned to Thyrsostachys oliveri or Thyrsostachys siamensis is not clarified at present.
(2) Specimens at Kew: A total of 9 specimens from J. W. Oliver on Poaceae are recorded, all from "1892", all of them on sheets, and all identified as Thyrsostachys oliveri. All specimens show flowering and leafy branches, but no culm-leaf (culm sheath). The only available image of a culm-leaf is the line drawing in Plate No. 50 (in J. S. Gamble, Bambuseae Brit. India, 1896 [#1230]), and that drawing was based on J. W. Oliver's specimens in "1891" as stated by Gamble. — Kew Herbarium, accessed 6 Nov. 2020.
(3) Description and line drawing of culm-leaf by Gamble (l.c., 1896 [#1230]): Both the description and line drawing are confusing as they do not match species from Thailand identified as Thyrsostachys oliveri. Most of the characteristics described, and the line drawing, rather match with ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang), ×Thyrsocalamus liang Sungkaew & W. L. Goh (2018).
(4) Walls of culm-internodes: "walls rather thin" (according to Gamble, 1896 [#1230]). However, the walls of all observed plants from Thailand that are believed to represent either Thyrsostachys oliveri or Thyrsostachys siamensis are quite thick and even solid on the basal culm. Also, ×Thyrsocalamus liang, ไผ่เลี้ยง (phai liang), which some Chinese botanists consider being true Thyrsostachys oliveri, have rather thick walls and solid basal culms. In contrast to the basal, lower, and middle culm sections, the walls of the upper culm section are in fact relatively thin.
(5) Description of flowers: "… filaments purple …" (Gamble, l.c., 1896: p. 59 [#1230]). I would rather expect the filaments to be white and the spikelets purplish when young.
(6) Gamble stated that Thyrsostachys oliveri is easily recognized by being larger than Thyrsostachys siamensis. I suspect that there are plants of Thyrsostachys oliveri cultivated in Thailand, that only reach the height of Thyrsostachys siamensis or grow slightly higher. Therefore, it will be difficult to identify both species only by their statures.
(7) Seeds (BS-0752, June 2012, and BS-0752-1, May 2013) of the name Thyrsostachys oliveri were received from China and said to originate from Vietnam. The seeds covered by their husks are similar to seeds of several species, some of them labeled as Gigantochloa species, received from China in 2011. Still, in May 2014, seedlings raised from BS-0752 were too small to be identified, but the leaves show a size that is similar to T. oliveri or even somewhat longer and wider than one would expect in this species.
(8) Seeds of Thyrsostachys were occasionally collected in Thailand in recent years and were commonly considered as Thyrsostachys siamensis by the collectors, but there are no records available on their proper identification. Some collectors said that the seeds were from "tall" plants. A Thyrsostachys bamboo near the Ping River in Mueang Chiang Mai District (Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand) has been described as tall, flowering, and seed-producing, and was identified as Thyrsostachys oliveri, ไผ่รวกใหญ่ (phai ruak yai) by Jeera Makmee (Facebook, 2 Apr. 2022, by Jeera Makmee).
(9) Reliable flowering and seeding records of Thyrsostachys oliveri in China, Vietnam, Thailand, or elsewhere in the 2010s could not be found.
(10) The basal and lower culms of Thyrsostachys are tightly wrapped into culm-leaves that cannot be easily removed. However, as soon as one removes the culm-leaves, it becomes clear that branch buds are present on the very basal node and all upper nodes (→ photos BS-0002-1_S2_019.jpg, BS-0002-1_S2_020.jpg, BS-0002-1_S2_021.jpg).
Thyrsostachys oliveri — Plants raised from plant divisions; flowers and seeds unknown
Specimens: BS-0002-1 [S2, BBG] (living plants), vicinity of Ban Pa Yang Poi (บ้านป่ายางปอย), Pa Lan Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, cult., coll. by Mr. Ma, received in 2003; BS-0002-2 [S6] (living plant), Kham Thiang Market, Chiang Mai, cult., received July 2004; BS-0002-3 [-] (living plant), Chiang Mai, cult., precise locality not recorded, 2004; BS-0002-6 [N4] (living plant), Ban Pa Yang Poi (บ้านป่ายางปอย), Pa Lan Subdistrict, Doi Saket District, Chiang Mai; along a ditch, taken into cultivation by D. O. in 2004; BS-0002-7 [W4] (living plant), same locality and coll. data, 2004; BS-0267 [BBG] (living plant), Kham Thiang Market, Chiang Mai, cult., received as "ไผ่ฮวก (phai huak)", Sep. 2009; CM-017 (culm-leaf).
Characteristics (BS-0002-1): Culm height over 16 m, basal culm diameter to 6.0 (6.5) cm with lacuna 2.1 cm, basally solid. Culm-internode length 25–35 cm on the lower culm, 35–40 (42) cm on the mid-culm. Foliage-leaf blades 7–15 (19) × 0.5–1.0 (1.4) cm.
Comments: A species of Thyrsostachys, tall growing, most likely Thyrsostachys oliveri.
Thyrsostachys oliveri (BS-0002-1)
Specimens: BS-0002-5 [S4l] (living plant), Ban Pa Yang Poi (บ้านป่ายางปอย), T. Pa Lan, A. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, along a ditch, coll. by D. O. in 2004; BS-0002-4 [S4r] (living plant), same locality and coll. data; BS-0514 [BBG] (living plant), same locality, coll. by D. O., 14 Aug. 2010; BS-0408 [S6] (living plants), T. Pa Lan, A. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, at the edge of a rice field, coll. by D. O., 13 Jan. 2010.
Characteristics: Culms to 7 or 10 m tall, 2.5–3 cm average diameter, 4.8–5.2 cm maximum diameter. Foliage-leaf blades (6) 8–13 (16) × (0.6) 0.8–1.0 (1.2) cm.
Comments: A species of Thyrsostachys; the plants did not grow very large at the site from which specimens were collected, and their potential final height and diameter are not yet known. However, in the case of BS-0002-4, years later, at the new location, Bambusetum Baan Sammi, it was found to have grown significantly taller (likely taller than 15 m) and had a basal diameter of 6.5 cm.
Thyrsostachys oliveri — Plants raised from seeds coll. in Thailand; flowers not seen
Specimens: BS-0690 [BBG] (living plants), raised from seeds from cultivated plants in Phayao Province, northern Thailand, without precise locality, collected by ธ. ล., Jan. – Feb. 2012, received as "ไผ่รวกใหญ่ (phai ruak yai)", 13 Jan. and 24 Feb. 2012.
Seed weight: Not recorded.
Seed germination: Seed placed on moistened tissue paper, in January 2012, 23–24 °C day temperature, diffuse light, 11–19 °C night temperature, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 12 days, first leaves after 20 days, germination rate high (>60%).
Comments:
(1) Seeds were collected from a tall plant.
(2) This is most likely a species of Thyrsostachys, but there is currently no proof of its species identification as Thyrsostachys oliveri.
Thyrsostachys oliveri (?) (BS-0690): Seeds
Young seedling of Thyrsostachys oliveri (?) (BS-0690)
Thyrsostachys oliveri (?) — Plants raised from seeds coll. in China and Vietnam; flowers not seen
Distribution: THAILAND: living plants and seeds introduced from Yunnan, plants in cultivation, rare. — CHINA (South): Yunnan, and perhaps adjacent regions.
Comments: Between 2010 and 2015, several seeds and a few small living plants, labeled as different bamboo species, were received from a nursery in Yunnan, China. When these plants (mainly those received from 2010 to 2013) reached a certain size in cultivation after 2–3 years, it became obvious that possibly all plants represent a single species. It was assumed at that time to be a species of Gigantochloa (but not Gigantochloa apus as assumed earlier). A closer look at the morphology of the seeds raised the question of whether this is actually a Gigantochloa species because all seeds look more like Thyrsostachys. Over the years, photos were taken of the characteristics of most of the plants (in their still immature state). Since 2018/2019, only 3 specimens could be kept at Bambusetum Baan Sammi, all others were moved to other places (to bamboo nurseries and gardens), or were given away in other ways. All the photos that were taken, and the 3 remaining living plants strongly contribute to the assumption that all plants represent only one species. By April 2020, doubts had increased about whether this species belonged to Gigantochloa. Judging from the culm-leaf and other characteristics, it could be a species of Thyrsostachys. A preliminary description was made based on all the (still non-adult) plants in question, but the description published here is based on the 3 living plants at Baan Sammi; the specimens and the description are listed below. To date (July 2020), the species has not been identified, and it remains unclear whether the species can be retained in the genus Thyrsostachys. It could also be a hybrid. Further observation of the 3 plants over the coming years is needed to reach a clear judgment. Until then, these specimens are provisionally kept under Thyrsostachys oliveri.
Specimens:
"Neosinocalamus affinis" — BS-0702
Specimen: BS-0702 [E1-R07], (living plant), from cultivated stock as seedling "花叶慈竹 (huā yè cí zhú), Neosinocalamus affinis [Bambusa emeiensis] (striped leaves)", from FMXG, Yunnan, China, the plant received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed (the seedling developed green leaves only); with increasing size and age, it turned out that BS-0702 is definitely not Neosinocalamus affinis [aka Lingnania affinis, Bambusa emeiensis].
"Leptocanna chinensis" — BS-0722
Specimen: BS-0722 [E2], (living plant), from cultivated stock as seedling "薄竹 (bo zhú), Leptocanna chinensis", from FMXG, the plant received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed.
"Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0816
Specimen: BS-0816 [C1], (living plant, raised from seeds), seeds from Yunnan Bamboo (YNB) as "大泰竹 (dà tài zhú) Thrysostachys oliveri", received on 2 May and 1 July 2015.
Specimen BS-0702, from left to right: Young shoot; young culm showing a white waxy velvety internode and a white hairy culm-leaf sheath with linear-lanceolate blade; the same culm but the blade removed from the sheath to see the low blackish ligule with its entire margin; branchlet with linear-lanceolate foliage-leaf blades; foliage-leaf sheath with white hairs
Characteristics (based on the aforementioned three specimens):
Habit caespitose, tight clump. Rhizome pachymorph, short. Culms straight, erect, more than 8 m tall [ultimate height not yet known, adult plants assumed to reach 12–15 m]. Young shoots conical; sheaths light green, farinose; margins white ciliate; blades erect, light green; emerge from May. Culm-internodes terete, 28–39 cm long on the mid-culm, much shorter on the basal and lower culm, white waxy-velvety when young, dull greenish when old; diameter 4 cm [ultimate diameter larger but not yet known]; thick-walled, basally solid. Culm-nodes flat, with a ring of short white velvety hairs when young; nodal line horizontal, dipping slightly below the bud; sheath scar not or marginally (0.5 mm) protruding, initially with patent hairs (?), glabrous when old; supranodal line obscure, without a ridge; with a dense white, farinose transverse band of ca. 1 cm height just below the nodal line when young; aerial roots occasionally present on the basal nodes. Branch-buds solitary, large, dome-shaped, from the basal node up. Branches several, small, unequal to subequal, 1–3 slightly dominant, arising in acute angle initially less than 45°; no lower branching; branching intravaginal; rebranching. Culm-leaves persistent on the basal and lower (unbranched) culm, deciduous on the upper (branched) culm. Culm-leaf sheaths green when young, with brownish patches and streaks when drying, yellowish brownish when dry, densely covered with short soft white hairs when young; surface gray when old, with blackish dots; narrowly parabolic, ca. 20 cm long, about half the length of the internode on the mid-culm; papery, firmly adherent to the unbranched basal and lower culm; apex narrow, truncate, slightly concave; sheath margins white ciliate when young, gray when old. Culm-leaf auricles inconspicuous very low rims, with a few white bristles at the ends. Culm-leaf ligule low, 1–1.5 mm high, entire, black when young, dull blackish when old. Culm-leaf blade caducous, deflexed to reflexed, linear-lanceolate, papery, the base 3/4 as wide as the sheath apex, green when young, gray when old, abaxially with scattered appressed short white hairs; margins eciliate, incurved when dry. Foliage-leaves 8–14 (17) per branchlet. Foliage-leaf sheaths keeled, green and pale soft short hairy when young, straw-colored when dry; apex truncate; margins short pale ciliate. Foliage-leaf auricles inconspicuous or none, without oral setae, or with a few short bristles. Foliage-leaf ligule entire, 0.5 mm high; outer ligule at thick raised callus. Foliage-leaf blades soft, thin, medium green, narrow, small, lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate, (10) 18–23 (34) × (1.3) 1.7–3 (4.3) cm, lower surface puberulent, upper surface glabrous or pale hispidulous; base rounded to wedge-shaped; apex acuminate; margins antrorsely scabrous; midvein distinct, proximally slightly prominent, light green beneath; side-veins inconspicuous, without visible cross-veins; pseudopetiole short, 1–2 mm long. Flowers not seen. Fruit a caryopsis; lemma and palea easily removable; caryopsis cylindrical with a conical base and somewhat rounded apex, 12–20 mm long, 2.5–4 mm in diameter, grooved, apex with persistent style base, (1) 2–3 mm long; pericarp hard, glossy ocher, adnate to the seed coat.
Comments: All specimens listed below (with 25 identification numbers) were obtained as seeds or seedlings from China between 2011 and 2015. 22 specimens were cultivated at Bambusetum Baan Sammi until about 2018/2019, but three specimens (BS-0702, BS-0722, BS-0816, as listed above) have remained in cultivation at Bambusetum Baan Sammi, of which two are still under observation in August 2023 (BS-0702 was transplanted to Bamboo Center, Royal Project Foundation ศูนย์ไผ่ มูลนิธิโครงการหลวง T. Mae Hia, A. Mueang, Chiang Mai, by Mr. Kittisak Jindawong, on 16 May 2021). The seed morphology (of all those specimens that were received as seeds) is the same, and the characteristics of the plants in the young stage of all specimens are very similar, as can be seen in the photos, which supports my assumption that all specimens represent only a single species.
(1) "Bambusa polymorpha" — BS-0704
Specimen: BS-0704 (living plant: seedling) [BBG], from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "4. 灰秆竹 (huī gǎn zhú) Bambusa polymorpha", received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed.
BS-0704: "Bambusa polymorpha", young culm with drying culm-leaves
BS-0704: "Bambusa polymorpha", young shoot
(2) "Bambusa polymorpha" — BS-0704-1
Specimens: BS-0704-1 [BBG, SSG] (seeds), from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Bambusa polymorpha, 灰秆竹 (huī gǎn zhú)", collected Feb. 2012, received 13 June 2012, seedlings raised at Baan Sammi. BS-0781-18, BS-0781-29, as "Bambusa polymorpha, 灰秆竹 (huī gǎn zhú)", received from FMXG via M. S., 27 Oct. 2013.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 100–135 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed germination: 10 seeds (BS-0781-18, BS-0781-29), tested 29 Oct. – 14 Nov. 2013, night/day temperature range 18–28 °C, diffuse light, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first sprout emerged after 4 days, 5 seeds germinated.
Comments: The seeds as cited above are too big and too heavy to be Bambusa polymorpha. They are similar to Thyrsostachys.
Seeds (BS-0704-1) received as "Bambusa polymorpha"
Seeds (BS-0704-1) received as "Bambusa polymorpha": Seeds germinating on moistened tissue paper
Seedling in May 2015, from seeds received as "Bambusa polymorpha" (BS-0704-1): Young shoot
(3) "Bambusa polymorpha" — BS-0709
Specimen: BS-0709 [BBG] (living plant: seedling), from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "9. 花叶灰秆竹 (huā yè huī gǎn zhú) Bambusa polymorpha (striped leaves)", received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed, seedling reverted to green leaf.
BS-0709: "Bambusa polymorpha", culm-leaf sheath apex with blade
(4) "Bambusa sp. Ruili" — BS-0760
Specimens: BS-0760 [SSG] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from Ruili (瑞丽), Dehong Prefecture, western Yunnan, China, received from FMXG, Yunnan, as "Bambusa sp. from Ruili (瑞丽)", seeds collected May 2012, received 13 June 2012 (BS-0760), collected Dec. 2013, received Dec. 2013 (BS-0760-1), and seeds of unrecorded collection date received from FMXG via M. S., 27 Oct. 2013 (BS-0781-20).
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 85–95 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed germination: (1) Seeds (BS-0760) laid on moistened tissue paper, in June 2012, 31–35 °C day temperature, diffuse light, 22–24 °C night temperature, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first coleoptiles emerged after 5 days, germination rate rather high (60–90%). (2) 5 seeds (BS-0781-20), tested 29 Oct. – 10 Nov. 2013, set on moistened tissue paper, night/day temperature range 21–28 °C, diffuse light, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first sprout emerged after 3 days, 4 seeds germinated.
Comments:
(1) Lemma and palea of the seeds of Ruili are darker (brownish-gray), and culm-leaves in young shoots are also darker. No further difference in the seeds and seedlings between the other specimens could be detected. Flowering branches not seen.
(2) Characteristics according to the seed supplier: Culm height 20 m, diameter 10 cm, similar to Bambusa polymorpha, but with gray culms. However, the culm-leaves do not have auricles as in Bambusa polymorpha.
"Bambusa" sp., Ruili (BS-0760): Young shoot showing dark-colored culm-leaf sheaths
"Bambusa" sp., Ruili (BS-0760): Seeds (left); seeds germinating on moistened tissue paper (right)
Seeds (BS-0760) received as "Bambusa" sp., Ruili: Germinating seeds on tissue paper, 10th day
Seedlings, raised from seeds received as "Bambusa" sp., Ruili: 38th day
(5) "Dinochloa mengyangensis" — BS-0711
Specimen: BS-0711 [BBG], (living plant), received as seedling "花叶藤竹 (huā yè téng zhú), Dinochloa mengyangensis (striped leaves)", 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed (the seedling developed green leaves only).
BS-0711: "Dinochloa mengyangensis", young shoot with apex of culm-leaf and blade
BS-0711: "Dinochloa mengyangensis", young shoot with apex of culm-leaf and blade
(6) "Gigantochloa albociliata" — BS-0528
Specimen: BS-0528 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from E. P., Germany, as "Gigantochloa albociliata", collected 2010, possibly of Chinese origin, received 19 Jan. 2011.
Seed weight: not recorded.
Seeds (BS-0671) (left), young seedlings raised from seeds (BS-0528) (right), both packages with seeds received as "Gigantochloa albociliata"
(7) "Gigantochloa albociliata" — BS-0671
Specimen: BS-0671 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa albociliata, 白毛巨竹 (bai mao ju zhu)", collected Apr. 2011, received 30 May 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Seeds placed in moistened coir dust at 100%, in June 2011, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 6 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
BS-0671: "Gigantochloa albociliata", young shoot with apex of culm-leaf and blade
(8) "Gigantochloa apus" — BS-0819
Specimen: BS-0819 [-] (seeds), from YNB, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa apus, 爪哇巨竹 (zhǎo wā jù zhú)", received 14 May and 1 July 2015.
Comments: A photo of the seeds was published in H. C. Tan, 2012: 16 [#1195].
BS-0819: "Gigantochloa apus", seeds
BS-0819: "Gigantochloa apus", a seed, its husks removed
(9) "Gigantochloa apus" — BS-0707
Specimen: BS-0707 [SSG] (living plant), from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "7. 花叶印尼巨竹 (huā yè yìn ní jù zhú) Gigantochloa apus (striped leaves)", received 23 Nov. 2011.
(10) "Gigantochloa atroviolacea" — BS-0782-24
Specimen: BS-0782-24 [-] (seeds), collected in the second half of 2013, collector anonymous, origin and collection date unrecorded, received from M.S. as "Gigantochloa atroviolacea", 27 Oct. 2013.
Seed weight: 24–25 g ≈ 200–235 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Not tested.
"Gigantochloa atroviolacea" seeds
Comments:
(1) These seeds certainly do not represent Gigantochloa atroviolacea, and the morphology of the seeds corresponds more closely to Thyrsostachys than to Gigantochloa.
(2) No records of flowering (and producing seeds) of Gigantochloa atroviolacea could be found, although seeds under this name have been offered for sale on the Internet for quite some time.
(3) Four photos displaying a wild population of a flowering bamboo species with black culms in Java were published on Facebook by Flower Seeds, assumed to represent Gigantochloa atroviolacea (pring wulung). It is not known whether plants in that population produced seeds.
(4) Morphologically different seeds under the name "Gigantochloa atroviolacea" were distributed by European seed suppliers; their seeds turned out to be thorny Bambusa bambos.
(11) "Gigantochloa brevisvagina" — BS-0654
Specimen: BS-0654 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, as "Gigantochloa brevisvagina, 短鞘巨竹 (duan qiao ju zhu)", collected 2010, not received, collected Apr. 2011 (BS-0654), received 19 May 2011, collected late 2011, not received.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Seed placed in moistened coir dust 100%, in May 2011, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 7 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
Comments: A valid publication of the name, "Gigantochloa brevisvagina", is not known.
Seeds (BS-0654) received as "Gigantochloa brevisvagina" (above), young seedlings on coir dust (below)
Two years old seedling, raised from seeds (BS-0654) received as "Gigantochloa brevisvagina"
(12) "Gigantochloa felix" — BS-0703-1
Specimen: BS-0703-1 [BBG, SSG] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, as "Gigantochloa felix, 滇巨竹 (dian ju zhu), 滇竹 (dian zhu)", collected Nov. 2011, received 23 Nov. 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Viability lasts longer than 1 year.
Seed germination: (1) Seed laid on moistened tissue paper, in April 2012, 29–35 °C day, diffuse light, 18–22 °C night, atmospheric humidity erratic, 40–90%, coleoptiles emerged after 14 days, germination rate moderate (40–60%). — (2) One-year-old seeds laid on moistened tissue paper, 18 Nov. 2012, temperatures unrecorded, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 7 days, germination rate high (73%).
Comments:
(1) Gigantochloa felix (Keng) Keng f. is a poorly known species endemic to southern Yunnan, with records only from the type collection, and it is assumed that this species may have become extinct in the wild.
(2) Gigantochloa felix has thick-walled culm-internodes and glabrous culm-leaf sheaths (KewScience POWO, accessed 7 July 2020 [#1305]). In BS-0703-1 the internodes are thick-walled, but the culm-leaf sheaths are pubescent, and the seeds are morphologically similar to Thyrsostachys, not Gigantochloa.
Seeds (BS-0703-1) received as "Gigantochloa felix" (left), young seedling on tissue paper, 17th day (right)
(13) "Gigantochloa longusvagina" — BS-0655
Specimen: BS-0655 [SSG] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa longusvagina, 长鞘巨竹 (zhang qiao ju zhu)", collected Apr. 2011, received 19 May 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Seed placed in moistened coir dust at 100%, in May 2011, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 7 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
Comments: A valid publication of the name, "Gigantochloa longusvagina", is not known.
Seeds (BS-0655) received as "Gigantochloa longusvagina"
Seedlings (BS-0655), "Gigantochloa longusvagina", 14th day
(14) "Gigantochloa nigrociliata" — BS-0642
Specimen: BS-0642 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa nigrociliata, 黑毛巨竹 (hei mao ju zhu)", collected 2010, and Apr. 2011, received 25 Apr. 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Over one year under storage at 1–6 °C. — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: Seed placed in moistened coir dust at 100%, in April 2011, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 9 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
Seeds (BS-0642) received as "Gigantochloa nigrociliata": Young seedlings on coir dust (left), seeds (right)
(15) "Gigantochloa nigrociliata" — BS-0621
Specimens: BS-0621 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa nigrociliata, 黑毛巨竹 (hei mao ju zhu)", the name was later corrected later to "Gigantochloa apus"; received March 2011. BS-0781-17 and BS-0781-28: (seeds), from FMXG, received via M. S. 27 Oct. 2013. BS-0819: (seeds), from FMXG, received in May and June 2015.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 90–120 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Six months and longer under normal atmospheric conditions; one and a half years under storage at 1–6 °C. — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: (1) Seeds (BS-0621) set in moistened coir at 100%, in March 2011, 28–34 °C day, diffuse light, 19–22 °C night, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 6 days, germination rate very high (>90%). — (2) Seeds (BS-0781-17, BS-0781-28), 11 Nov. 2013: Germination rate about 15–35% at night/day temperature range 18–28 °C, diffuse light, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first sprout emerged after 3 days.
Comments: 黑毛 (hei mao) in the Chinese name means black hair.
Seeds of "Gigantochloa apus" (BS-0621)
3 weeks old seedlings of "Gigantochloa apus" (BS-0621)
(15a) "Gigantochloa nigrociliata" — BS-0621-1
Specimen: BS-0621-1 [-] (living plant), raised from one of the seeds of BS-0621 and separated; the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa nigrociliata, 黑毛巨竹 (hei mao ju zhu)", the name was later corrected later to "Gigantochloa apus"; received March 2011.
This is a single selection from the seedlings of BS-0621. BS-0621-1 unusually developed rhizomes above the ground on culm-nodes and branch-nodes.
(16) "Gigantochloa takserah" — BS-0624
Specimen: BS-0624 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from China as "泰国巨竹 (tài guó jù zhú), Gigantochloa takserah", received 14 Mar. 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 100–110 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Seed placed in a moistened medium, coir 50%, rough sand 50%, in March 2011, 15–33 °C day, diffuse light, 12–19 °C night, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 10 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
Comments:
(1) The Chinese name, 泰国巨竹 (tài guó jù zhú), translates as "Thai giant bamboo", hence one can assume that this bamboo was introduced from Thailand to China.
(2) Originally, the name Gigantochloa tekserah was applied by É. G. Camus (1913), with a brief description, to a bamboo grown in Meghalaya, north-eastern India. This name is now considered a synonym of Gigantochloa macrostachya Kurz. The original spelling "tekserah" is possibly a French phonetic transcription of the native name (maybe from Garo language in Bengali script) of this bamboo, and "takserah" seems to be the English phonetic transcription.
(3) Little is known about this bamboo cultivated in southern China under the name "Gigantochloa takserah". It is not clear, if "Gigantochloa takserah" refers to the bamboo named by É. G. Camus. It may be that this bamboo was introduced from India into China, and it may turn out to be Gigantochloa macrostachya, which has white stripes on the lower internodes, but this character is not present in the seedlings of BS-0624.
(4) A photo of the seeds of "Gigantochloa takserah" was published in H. C. Tan, 2012: 16 [#1195].
Seeds (BS-0624) received as "Gigantochloa takserah" (left), germinating seeds on coir dust, 11th day (right)
Seedlings raised from seeds (BS-0624) received as "Gigantochloa takserah", 16th day
(17) "Gigantochloa takserah" — BS-0708
Specimen: BS-0708 [SSG], (living plant), received from China as "8. 花叶泰国巨竹 (huā yè tài guó jù zhú) Gigantochloa takserah (striped leaves)" in 2011, said to have been raised in China from seeds.
Characteristics: Foliage-leaf blades with cream stripes in varying widths and obscure patterns.
(18) "Leptocanna chinensis" — BS-0722
Specimen: BS-0722 [E2], (living plant), from cultivated stock as seedling "薄竹 (bo zhú), Leptocanna chinensis", from FMXG, the plant received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed.
BS-0722: "Leptocanna chinensis", young culm with culm-leaf sheath apex and blade
BS-0722: "Leptocanna chinensis", young shoot
(19) "Lingnania distegia" — BS-0721
Specimen: BS-0721 [-], (living plant), received as seedling "料慈竹 (liào cí zhú), Lingnania distegia", 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed.
BS-0721: "Lingnania distegia", young shoot with culm-leaf sheath apex and blade
(20) "Lingnania intermedia" — BS-0712
Specimen: BS-0712 [BBG] (living plant), from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "12. 花叶绵竹 (huā yè mián zhú) Lingnania intermedia (striped leaves)", said having been raised in China from seeds [neither flowers nor seeds were seen], the plant received 23 Nov. 2011; the seedling developed green leaves only.
BS-0712: Foliage-leaf sheaths with soft hairs, not glabrous
BS-0712: Internode and culm-leaf sheath with white hairs, the node with a ring of dense white hairs
BS-0712: Young shoot, with short white hairs
Comments:
(1) The plant BS-0712, after it has grown in size, has been found to have the same characteristics as all of the other specimens listed here. However, the first question that arose was whether BS-0712 and all other specimens are more similar to Bambusa intermedia than Thyrsostachys. Below are some facts about Bambusa intermedia.
(2) Bambusa intermedia Hsueh & T. P. Yi, J. Bamboo Res. 3 (1), 1984: 43; syn. Lingnania intermedia (Hsueh & T. P. Yi) T. P. Yi, Bamboos Fl. Sichuan, 1997: 74; Fl. Sichuanica 12, 1997 [publ. 1998]: 51. Chinese name: 绵竹 (mián zhú). Distribution: CHINA: Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan, at 500–2,300 m altitude, cultivated in river valleys and hilly areas. — A recent molecular study confirmed the placement of this taxon in the core group Bambusa (Clade B1) and not in the Lingnania clade (Clade B2), the latter comprising Lingnania chungii (syn. Bambusa chungii) and Lingnania affinis (syn. Bambusa emeiensis). — J. X. Liu & al., 2020 [#1351].
(3) Description 1: "Culms to 10(–15) m, to 10 cm in diam.; internodes deep green, 35–45(–55) cm, initially thinly white powdery, sparsely deciduously white hairy; wall to 2 cm thick; nodes flat, white tomentose; branching from basal nodes up. Branches many, main mid-culm branch to 2 cm in diam. Culm sheaths deciduous, ca. 1/2 as long as internodes, leathery, with yellow and brown hairs, apex truncate or slightly concave; auricles small; oral setae several; ligule 2–3 mm, fimbriate; blade reflexed or spreading, abaxially glabrous, base ca. 1/3 as wide as sheath apex. Leaf sheaths glabrous; ligule truncate; auricles narrowly ovate; oral setae deflexed; blade lanceolate, 7–18 × 1–2.5 cm. … [flowers described, seeds unknown]." — Flora of China, and line drawing in Flora of China, both accessed 19 Nov. 2020 [#1303].
(4) Description 2: "Habit: Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; erect at the tip, or inclined at the tip; 700–1500 cm long; 30–70(–110) mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 35–45(–55) cm long; distally mealy. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Culm-sheaths deciduous but leaving a persistent girdle; 20–30 cm long; 1 times as long as wide; hispid; with yellow hairs, or tawny hairs; concave at apex; without auricles; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule 2–3 mm high; ciliate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; constricted at base; erect, or reflexed; pubescent. Leaves cauline; 5–12 per branch. Leaf-sheaths 5–7 cm long; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base truncate, or cordate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–15 cm long; 10–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 10–14 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; filiform. … [flowers and seeds described]." — Kew GrassBase, accessed 19 Nov. 2020 [#1335].
(5) Similar characteristics in both BS-0712 and Bambusa intermedia:
Culm-internodes white hairy; walls thick; nodes white hairy; branches several, with a dominant branch; culm-leaf sheath half as long as internode, apex truncate, slightly concave, auricles inconspicuous, oral setae several, blade deflexed to reflexed; foliage-leaf blades hairy beneath.(6) Different characteristics between BS-0712 and Bambusa intermedia (the latter in parentheses):
Culm-leaf sheath covered with white hairs (yellow, brown, or tawny hairs in B. intermedia), ligule 1–1.5 mm high, entire (2–3 mm high, ciliate), blade base 3/4 as wide as the sheath apex (1/3 as wide as the sheath apex); foliage-leaf sheaths hairy (glabrous), auricles inconspicuous, oral setae none or few and short (auricles conspicuous, oral setae present), blades 18–23 × 1.7–3 cm (7–18 × 1–2.5 cm).(7) Conclusion: The differences between BS-0712 and Bambusa intermedia are quite few and not of minor importance. So, despite the numerous similarities that exist, it would be more than questionable to identify BS-0712 as Bambusa intermedia. However, if in a few years BS-0712 has grown larger, its identity should be re-examined.
(21) "Neosinocalamus affinis" — BS-0702
Specimen: BS-0702 [-], (living plant), from the cultivated stock as seedling "花叶慈竹 (huā yè cí zhú), Neosinocalamus affinis [Bambusa emeiensis] (striped leaves)", from FMXG, Yunnan, China, the plant received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed (the seedling developed green leaves only); with increasing size and age, it turned out that BS-0702 is definitely not Neosinocalamus affinis [aka Lingnania affinis, Bambusa emeiensis].
BS-0702: "Neosinocalamus affinis", section of young shoot, showing the apex of a culm-leaf sheath and the lower portion of the blade
(22) "Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0752
Specimen: BS-0752 [C1] [BBG] (seeds), seedlings raised; seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Thyrsostachys oliveri, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), from Vietnam", harvested Apr./May 2012 (BS-0752).
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 60–75 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: About 1–2 years at low temperature (4 °C). — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: Seeds (BS-0752) laid on moistened tissue paper, in June 2012, 28–29 °C day temperature, diffuse light, 24 °C night temperature, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first shoot emerged after 3 days, germination rate high (>60%), but developing roots and sprouts can easily suffer from mildew.
Comments:
(1) The Chinese name for this bamboo, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), translates as Bigger Thai Bamboo.
(2) Photos taken from the flowering mother plants in Vietnam are not available.
(3) In two recent publications, one from Thailand and the other from China, Thyrsostachys oliveri was described and pictured, and it is obvious from their photos that two different species are involved! Therefore, the identification based on the vegetative characteristics of this species remains controversial.
Seeds (BS-0752) received as "Thyrsostachys oliveri": Seeds bare of husks (left), germinating seeds on tissue paper (right)
(23) "Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0752-2
Specimens: BS-0752-2 [-], BS-0781-15 [-], BS-0781-25 [-] (seeds), seedlings raised; seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Thyrsostachys oliveri, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), from Vietnam", harvested May 2013 (BS-0752-2), and, without harvest date, received Oct. 2013 (BS-0781-15, BS-0781-25).
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 60–75 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: About 1–2 years at low temperature (4 °C). — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: Seeds (BS-0781-15, BS-0781-25) set on moistened tissue paper, germination rate about 15–25% at night/day temperature range 18–28 °C, diffuse light, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first sprout emerged after 3 days (test 131029).
Seeds (BS-0752-2) received as "Thyrsostachys oliveri": Seeds, one seed with its husks removed (left), seed bare of husks (right)
(24) "Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0793
Specimen: BS-0793 [BBG] (living plants), seedlings raised from seeds received from FMXG, Yunnan, as "Thyrsostachys oliveri, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), from Yunnan, China", harvested May 2014.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 60–75 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: About 1–2 years at low temperature (4 °C). — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: 5 of 10 seeds (BS-0793) germinated by the 10th day (test 140516).
Comments:
(1) The Chinese name for this bamboo, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), translates as Bigger Thai Bamboo.
(2) Photos taken from the flowering mother plants in Yunnan are not available.
Seeds (BS-0793) received as "Thyrsostachys oliveri": Seed with their husks removed (top left and right), seeds wrapped with husks (bottom)
(25) "Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0816
Specimen: BS-0816 [C1] [BBG] (living plants), seedlings raised from seeds received from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Thyrsostachys oliveri, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), from Yunnan, China", coll. Mar. 2015, received 2 May and 1 July 2015.
Characteristics (young plant): Culm-leaves persistent. Culm-leaf sheath shorter than internode, light brown and scattered with short soft whitish hairs when young. Culm-leaf blade deflexed, early deciduous. Foliage-leaves about 7–10 per branchlet. Foliage-leaf sheaths green, hispid. Foliage-leaf auricles inconspicuous very low rims, without bristles. Foliage-leaf ligule short, entire. Foliage-leaf blades large, to 40 cm long and 5.5 cm wide, lanceolate, glabrous on both surfaces; base rounded to cuneate; apex attenuate.
Seed weight: 1.2 g = 20 seeds (bare of husks).
Seed viability: About 1–2 years at low temperature (4 °C). — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: 3 of 6 seeds (BS-0816) germinated by the 8th day (test 150503).
Comments: The morphology of the seeds indicates Thyrsostachys. The characteristics of the young plant show some similarities with Thyrsostachys but do not sufficiently match them. Initially, the plant was supposed to represent a species of Gigantochloa, but this is an error.
Seeds (BS-0816) received as "Thyrsostachys oliveri": Seeds wrapped with husks (left); seed, its husks partly removed (right)