Bambusa sp. (CN: Hainan)

Specimen: BS-0810-2 [C4] (living plant), Hainan, China, cult., received from M. S., 9 Mar. 2015.

Characteristics: Rhizome pachymorph, short. Culms straight, erect. Young shoots conical, with culm-leaves erect, green, glabrous, slightly farinose; emerge from March to August. Culm-internodes green to dark green, glabrous(?), relatively thick-walled (walls 2–2.5 mm thick on the mid-culm with a diameter of 7.5 mm). Culm nodes not prominent, glabrous; supranodal line discernible although without a ridge. Branches few to several, one slightly dominant; branching intravaginal. Culm-leaves deciduous. Culm-leaf sheaths glabrous(?), shorter than half the length of the internode; light straw-colored when dry. Culm-leaf auricles large, projecting, pale-bristly. Culm-leaf blades initially erect, becoming deflexed, about as long as the sheath length, caducous, light straw-colored when dry. Foliage-leaves ca. 7–9 per branchlet. Foliage-leaf sheaths glabrous(?). Foliage-leaf auricles low ovate lobes, orange-colored when young, pale bristly. Foliage-leaf blades small, glabrous(?), green to dark green above.

Uses: Not recorded.

Comments:

(1) Flowers and seeds are unknown.

(2) This is a sympodial bamboo that appears to be similar in habit and appearance to Bambusa multiplex, but has large projecting bristly auricles.

(3) The plant is currently too small to provide a more detailed description and attempt identification (28 Aug. 2023).