Chimonobambusa opienensis
Chimonobambusa opienensis (Hsueh & T. P. Yi) T. H. Wen & Ohrnb. in Ohrnb., Bamb. World Chimonobambusa, 1990: 30.
Synonyms: Oreocalamus opienensis Hsueh & T. P. Yi; Qiongzhuea opienensis (Hsueh & T. P. Yi) D. Z. Li & Hsueh; Qiongzhuea maculata T. H. Wen; Chimonobambusa maculata (T. H. Wen) T. H. Wen.
Thai name: No known records.
Chinese name: 三月筇竹 (sān yuè qióng zhú).
Distribution: THAILAND: Introduced, but there is no known record of whether this species has been successfully kept in cultivation in Thailand. — CHINA (South): Sichuan.
Descriptions:
(1) "Habit: Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 400-700 cm long; 10-30 mm diam.; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes channelled, or quadrangular; thin-walled; smooth; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes flush with internodes; glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement two, or three; in a horizontal line; with subequal branches; thinner than stem. Culm-sheaths deciduous; chartaceous; antrorsely scabrous; hispid; with yellow hairs; without auricles; glabrous on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule entire. Culm-sheath blade linear; erect; glabrous on surface. Leaves cauline; 1 per branch. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base cuneate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate; 8-12 cm long; 13-20 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 8-10 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Inflorescences: Flowering specimens unknown." — KewScience POWO, accessed 8 July 2020 [#1305].
(2) T. H. Wen, J. Amer. Bamboo Soc. 11 (1-2), 1994: p. 76 [#1176].
Comments: Flowers and seeds are known; there is a record of a flowering event of this species: X. L. Jiang & al., Supplementary Description of the Flower and Fruit of Qiongzhuea opienensis H[s]ueh et Yi, Journal of Sichuan Forestry Science and Technology, 2011-02 [#1312].
Specimens: BS-0645 [-], BS-0645-1 [SSG] (living plants), raised from seeds. Seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Qiongzhuea opienensis, 三月筇竹 (sān yuè qióng zhú)"; collected early May 2011, and received 19 May 2011 (BS-0645); collected early May 2012, and received 12 May 2012 (BS-0645-1); collected early Apr. 2013, and early May 2014, not received.
Seed viability: Rather short, 2–3 weeks under normal atmospheric conditions, or 1–2 months under very low temperatures above freezing point. Seeds need to be stored in humid conditions and should not dry out. If affected by mold, a fungicide solution treatment prior to sowing is needed (e.g., 5 g Carbendazim in 2 l water, seeds to be soaked for 1–2 hours). — acc. FMXG.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 20–30 humid seeds, mixed, husk-wrapped seeds, and those bare of husks.
Seed germination: One batch of seeds (BS-0645-1) laid on moistened tissue paper, the other (BS-0645-1) in moistened coir dust, in May 2012, 27–33 °C day temperature, diffuse light, 22–25 °C night temperature, atmospheric humidity 60–85%, the first coleoptiles emerged after 9 days.
Comments: The seedlings were distributed in northern Thailand, but the current locations of the cultivated plants are unknown.
Chimonobambusa opienensis (BS-0645): Humid seeds, mixed, husk-wrapped seeds, and those bare of husks
Chimonobambusa opienensis (BS-0645-1): Germinating seeds, 9th day, in coir dust (left) and on tissue paper (right)
Chimonobambusa opienensis (BS-0645-1): Two months old seedling