Phyllostachys edulis (?)

Specimen: BS-0856 (seeds), offered by FY, China, as "Chimonobambusa quadrangularis, 方竹 (fāng zhú)", harvested Nov./Dec. 2015, received 2 Mar. 2016.

Seed weight: 1.0 g ≈ 25 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).

Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.

Seed germination: 12 of 25 seeds germinated (test 160302).

Comments: (1) The seed supplier from China claimed those seeds to be "Chimonobambusa quadrangularis". There is serious doubt that the seeds belong to the genus Chimonobambusa. There are no records of any flowering of Chimonobambusa quadrangularis in 2015, or in the years before and after. Morphologically, the seeds appear to belong to the genus Phyllostachys, and it may turn out that they are Phyllostachys edulis. — (2) Photos of true Chimonobambusa quadrangularis in BambooWeb.info [#1340].

Specimen: BS-0855 (seeds), offered by FY, China, as "Fargesia spathacea, 箭竹 (jiàn zhú)", harvested Nov./Dec. 2015, received 2 Mar. 2016.

Seed weight: 0.9 g ≈ 25 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).

Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.

Seed germination: 11 of 25 seeds germinated (test 160302).

Comments: The seed supplier from China claimed those seeds to be "Fargesia spathacea". There is serious doubt that the seeds belong to the genus Fargesia. More likely, they represent a species of Phyllostachys, probably Phyllostachys edulis.

Specimen: BS-0833 (seeds), received Dec. 2015 from FY, China, as "Indocalamus tessellatus, 箬竹 (ruò zhú)", harvested Nov. 2015.

Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 330–340 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).

Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.

Seed germination: 4 seeds (BS-0833) bare of husks laid on moistened tissue paper in a transparent breeding box, 2 seeds germinated by the 11th day (test 151222).

Comments: (1) There is currently no proof that the seeds received are truly this species, Indocalamus tessellatus, or Indocalamus at all. No vegetative or flowering specimens of the original flowering plants have been seen. — (2) No records are known that Indocalamus tessellatus flowered anywhere in China at that time; its flowering cycle: 60, >115 years [#1320]. — (3) In the Flora of China, seeds of Indocalamus tessellatus were briefly described as follows: "Caryopsis ca. 7 × 2.5 mm, style base persistent". The seeds received are dark brown, with a persistent style base, and are 9–10 mm long by 1,8–2.0 mm wide, so they show a more slender shape. Actually, these seeds (BS-0833) look very similar to other seeds received as Phyllostachys, and it is suspected that plants raised from those seeds will turn out to be true Phyllostachys edulis.

Specimens: BS-0831, BS-0831-1 (seeds), received from FY, China, as "Phyllostachys viridis, 刚竹 (gāng zhú)", harvested late 2014 (BS-0831), and Nov. 2015 (BS-0831-1).

Images: Photos of true Phyllostachys sulphurea var. viridis in BambooWeb.info [#1340].

Seed weight: 20 g ≈ 550–600 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).

Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.

Seed germination: (1) 10 seeds (BS-0831) soaked in clear water for less than 5 h, then laid on moistened tissue paper in a transparent breeding box, from 29 May 2015, 34–36 °C daytime highs, diffuse light, 24–25 °C night lows, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first seed began to germinate visibly on the 5th day after sowing, and 7 seeds germinated by the 13th day. A germination rate of about 70% can be expected (test 150529). — (2) Seeds of the new harvest (BS-0831-1) were tested in January 2016 (test 160119), and germination rates were similar.

Comments:

(1) The seed supplier from China claimed those seeds to be "Phyllostachys viridis" (synonym: Phyllostachys sulphurea var. viridis). There is no doubt that the seeds belong to the genus Phyllostachys. Whether the seeds belong to the claimed species, however, has not been supported by evidence so far. It is suspected that the seeds will turn out to be true Phyllostachys edulis.

(2) No records could be found of any flowering event or seed production of Phyllostachys sulphurea in China or elsewhere in the 2010s.