Otatea glauca
Otatea glauca L. G. Clark & G. Cortés, J. Amer. Bamboo Soc. 18, 2004: 3.
English name: Mayan Silver Bamboo.
Distribution: THAILAND: Introduced, but may not have been successfully established in cultivation. — MEXICO: Chiapas, endemic, slopes in the transition area of tropical dry forests and oak forests, 600 m altitude. In cultivation abroad, e.g., in the USA, and New Zealand.
Culm size: Height to 8 m, diameter to 3 cm.
Description: L. G. Clark & G. Cortés, Bamboo Sci. Cult., J. Amer. Bamboo Soc. 18(1), 2004: p. 1-6 [#1282].
Images: Photos in BambooWeb.info; Quindembo Bamboo.
Uses: Plants as garden ornamentals.
Cultivation requirements: Drought-tolerant; sun to partial shade; prefers an arid climate, does not grow well under humid conditions.
Comments:
(1) Flowers and seeds are known.
(2) Young culms are covered with a waxy white powder, giving the plant a silvery appearance.
Specimen: BS-0948 [C7] (living plants), raised from seeds. The seeds from Mexico were received from R. M. O., on 28 Oct. 2019.
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed weight: 5 seeds = 0.04 g.
Seed germination: Seed placed in moistened coir dust at 100%, 31 Oct. 2019, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 4 days (test 191031).
Comments: Some seedlings were distributed in northern Thailand in 2020, but their survival is in doubt and has not been recorded. The only living plant left at Bambusetum Baan Sammi died in November 2020.
Otatea glauca (BS-0948): Husk-wrapped seeds
Otatea glauca (BS-0948): 5 selected seeds
Otatea glauca (BS-0948): 5 seeds weigh 0.04 g
Otatea glauca (BS-0948): Seedlings on the 13th day after sowing
Otatea glauca (BS-0948): Seedlings on the 13th day after sowing
Otatea glauca (BS-0948): Two seedlings, 5 months old