Schizostachyum diffusum

Synonyms: Bambusa diffusa Blanco, Fl. Filip., 1837: 269; Dinochloa diffusa (Blanco) Merr., Publ. Bur. Sci. Gov. Lab. 27, 1905: 93.

Vernacular name (Philippines: Tagalog): Bikal.

Chinese name: 莎簕竹 (shā lè zhú).

Distribution: THAILAND: Records of a successful introduction with correct species identification are not available. — CHINA (East): eastern and southern Taiwan. — PHILIPPINES. — In primary forests at 200–1,200 m altitude.

Description: "Culms flexuose, slender, to 40 m long, 0.5–1.5 cm in diam., apically clambering; internodes 15–60 cm, with ring of white powder below node; wall 2–4 mm thick. Culm sheaths deciduous, leathery, rigid, with stiff, brown hairs, base without a projection, margins ciliate, apex concave; auricles inconspicuous; oral setae well developed, curved; ligule short or inconspicuous; blade reflexed, linear-lanceolate, apex involute to aciculate. Leaves 5–12 per ultimate branch; sheaths 5–12 cm, glabrous, outer margin ciliate; auricles inconspicuous; oral setae well developed, initially white, becoming brown; ligule suborbicular or subtruncate, dentate; petiole short; blade oblong-lanceolate, 10–25 × 1.5–2.5 cm, abaxially glabrous, margin densely scabrous to setaceous, base rounded, apex acute … [flowers and seeds described] … The identification of Chinese material as Schizostachyum diffusum requires further study." — Flora of China [#1303].

Images: Photos in T. P. Yi & al., Iconographia Bambusoidearum Sinicarum, 2008: 2 photos on p. 054 [#1178].

Specimen: BS-0079 [N4] (living plant), received as "#6 Schizostachyum diffusum" from FMXG, Yunnan, China, 25 Jan. 2013.

Comments: The characteristics of specimen BS-0079 do not match those of Schizostachyum diffusum, an unexpected fact that became evident as the plant grew up. In addition, it is highly unlikely that this specimen is a species of the genus Schizostachyum at all. The description of BS-0079, based on the adult plant, mainly the characteristics of the culm-leaves, agrees pretty well with the artificial intergeneric hybrids, a group in which BS-0079 has now been placed (→ Bambusa pervariabilis artificial intergeneric hybrids). Presumably, one of the hybrids was mistaken for Schizostachyum diffusum and incorrectly labeled before the plant arrived at Bambusetum Baan Sammi.