Chusquea quila
Chusquea quila Kunth, Révis. Gramin. 1 (9), 1829: 138.
Distribution: THAILAND: Introduced, but there is no known record of whether this species has been successfully kept in cultivation in Thailand. — CHILE (Central, South).
Description: KewScience POWO [#1305].
Flowering cycle: 15–20, 45 years [#1320].
Seed viability: Unknown.
Specimen: BS-0755 [†] (living plants), raised from seeds. The seeds from Chile, without precise locality, received from C. F. M. B. as "Chusquea quila", 21 May 2012.
Seed weight: Not recorded.
Seed germination: Seeds were laid on moistened tissue paper, and in coir dust at 100%, in late May, 28–31 °C day temperature, diffuse light, 22–24 °C night temperature, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first coleoptiles of Chusquea quila emerged after 15 days, germination rate moderate. None of the seeds showed any signs of fungal infection.
Comments: The seedlings were distributed in northern Thailand, but the current locations of the cultivated plants are unknown. A few seedlings remained at Bambusetum Baan Sammi, but after a few weeks, none of them survived, probably due to the tropical climate. An attempt to gradually adapt the seedlings to the tropical climate could not be carried out because a cool house was not available.
Chusquea quila (BS-0755): Seeds (1st picture from left to right), germinating seed, 27th day (2nd picture), young seedlings, 41st day (3rd picture), seedlings transplanted into polybags, 59th day (4th picture)