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— BAMBOOS OF THAILAND — ONLINE VERSION OF 1 JANUARY 2021 — LATEST UPDATE OF 21 SEPTEMBER 2025 —
Thyrsostachys aff. oliveri — Plants raised from seeds received from China; seeds coll. in China, Vietnam, or elsewhere; flowers not seen
Distribution: THAILAND: living plants and seeds introduced from Yunnan, China; plants in cultivation, rare. — CHINA (South): Yunnan; unknown (but unlikely) if native to China, plants or seeds were possibly introduced from outside China.
Comments: Between 2010 and 2015, several seeds and a few small living plants, labeled as different bamboo species, were received from a nursery in Yunnan, China. When these plants (mainly those received from 2010 to 2013) reached a certain size in cultivation at Bambusetum Baan Sammi after 2–3 years, it became obvious that possibly all plants represent a single species. It was assumed at that time to be a species of Gigantochloa (but not Gigantochloa apus as assumed earlier). A closer look at the morphology of the seeds raised the question of whether this is a Gigantochloa species because all seeds look more like Thyrsostachys. Over the years, photos were taken of the characteristics of most of the plants (in their still immature state). Since 2018/2019, only 3 specimens could be kept at Bambusetum Baan Sammi, all others were moved to other places (to bamboo nurseries and gardens), or given away in other ways. All the photos that were taken, and the 3 remaining living plants strongly contribute to the assumption that all plants represent only one species. By April 2020, doubts had increased about whether this species belonged to Gigantochloa. Judging from the culm-leaf and other characteristics, it could be a species of Thyrsostachys. A preliminary description was made based on all the (still non-adult) plants in question, but the description published here is based on the 3 living plants at Baan Sammi; the specimens and the description are listed below. To date (July 2020), the species has not been identified, and it remains unclear whether the species can be retained in the genus Thyrsostachys. It could also be a hybrid. In any case, this unidentified species looks more similar to the two Thrysostachys species than any other bamboo species of the genera Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, and Gigantochloa that I know of. There is a similarity in habit to Dendrocalamus strictus, but the culm sheaths are quite different, which rules out this species. Further observation of the 3 plants over the coming years is needed to reach a clear judgment. Until then, these specimens are provisionally kept as Thyrsostachys aff. oliveri. This is not to argue that this species might be T. oliveri, but rather that it most closely resembles it. The differences in the culm-leaf sheath (convex sheath apex, yellowish tint in older, dried sheaths) alone indicate that it is not T. oliveri.
Specimens:
"Neosinocalamus affinis" — BS-0702
Specimen: BS-0702 [E1-R07], (living plant), from cultivated stock as seedling "花叶慈竹 (huā yè cí zhú), Neosinocalamus affinis [Bambusa emeiensis] (striped leaves)", from FMXG, Yunnan, China, the plant received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed (the seedling developed green leaves only); with increasing size and age, it turned out that BS-0702 is definitely not Neosinocalamus affinis [aka Lingnania affinis, Bambusa emeiensis].
"Leptocanna chinensis" — BS-0722
Specimen: BS-0722 [E2], (living plant), from cultivated stock as seedling "薄竹 (bo zhú), Leptocanna chinensis", from FMXG, the plant received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed.
"Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0816
Specimen: BS-0816 [C1], (living plant, raised from seeds), seeds from Yunnan Bamboo (YNB) as "大泰竹 (dà tài zhú) Thrysostachys oliveri", received on 2 May and 1 July 2015.
Specimen BS-0702, from left to right: Young shoot; young culm showing a white waxy velvety internode and a white hairy culm-leaf sheath with linear-lanceolate blade; the same culm but the blade removed from the sheath to see the low blackish ligule with its entire margin; branchlet with linear-lanceolate foliage-leaf blades; foliage-leaf sheath with white hairs
Characteristics (based on the aforementioned three specimens):
Habit caespitose, tight clump. Rhizome pachymorph, short. Culms straight, erect, more than 8 m tall [ultimate height not yet known, adult plants assumed to reach 12–15 m]. Young shoots conical; sheaths light green, farinose; margins white ciliate; blades erect, light green; emerge from May. Culm-internodes terete, 28–39 cm long on the mid-culm, much shorter on the basal and lower culm, white waxy-velvety when young, dull greenish when old; diameter 4 cm [ultimate diameter larger but not yet known]; thick-walled, basally solid. Culm-nodes flat, with a ring of short white velvety hairs when young; nodal line horizontal, dipping slightly below the bud; sheath scar not or marginally (0.5 mm) protruding, initially with patent hairs (?), glabrous when old; supranodal line obscure, without a ridge; with a dense white, farinose transverse band of ca. 1 cm height just below the nodal line when young; aerial roots occasionally present on the basal nodes. Branch-buds solitary, large, dome-shaped, from the basal node up. Branches several, small, unequal to subequal, 1–3 slightly dominant, arising in acute angle initially less than 45°; no lower branching; branching intravaginal; rebranching. Culm-leaves persistent on the basal and lower (unbranched) culm, deciduous on the upper (branched) culm. Culm-leaf sheaths green when young, with brownish patches and streaks when drying, yellowish brownish when dry, densely covered with short soft white hairs when young; surface gray when old, with blackish dots; narrowly parabolic, ca. 20 cm long, about half the length of the internode on the mid-culm; papery, firmly adherent to the unbranched basal and lower culm; apex narrow, truncate, slightly concave; sheath margins white ciliate when young, gray when old. Culm-leaf auricles inconspicuous very low rims, with a few white bristles at the ends. Culm-leaf ligule low, 1–1.5 mm high, entire, black when young, dull blackish when old. Culm-leaf blade caducous, deflexed to reflexed, linear-lanceolate, papery, the base 3/4 as wide as the sheath apex, green when young, gray when old, abaxially with scattered appressed short white hairs; margins eciliate, incurved when dry. Foliage-leaves 8–14 (17) per branchlet. Foliage-leaf sheaths keeled, green and pale soft short hairy when young, straw-colored when dry; apex truncate; margins short pale ciliate. Foliage-leaf auricles inconspicuous or none, without oral setae, or with a few short bristles. Foliage-leaf ligule entire, 0.5 mm high; outer ligule at thick raised callus. Foliage-leaf blades soft, thin, medium green, narrow, small, lanceolate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate, (10) 18–23 (34) × (1.3) 1.7–3 (4.3) cm, lower surface puberulent, upper surface glabrous or pale hispidulous; base rounded to wedge-shaped; apex acuminate; margins antrorsely scabrous; midvein distinct, proximally slightly prominent, light green beneath; side-veins inconspicuous, without visible cross-veins; pseudopetiole short, 1–2 mm long. Flowers not seen. Fruit a caryopsis; lemma and palea easily removable; caryopsis cylindrical with a conical base and somewhat rounded apex, 12–20 mm long, 2.5–4 mm in diameter, grooved, apex with persistent style base, (1) 2–3 mm long; pericarp hard, glossy ocher, adnate to the seed coat.Uses: Young shoots edible, after a single 1-hour decoction of good taste, not bitter; a little less soft than shoots of Thyrsostachys oliveri and T. siamensis. Culms potentially suitable for construction purposes.
Comments: All specimens listed below (with 25 identification numbers) were obtained as seeds or seedlings from China between 2011 and 2015. 22 specimens were cultivated at Bambusetum Baan Sammi until about 2018/2019, but three specimens (BS-0702, BS-0722, BS-0816, as listed above) have remained in cultivation at Bambusetum Baan Sammi, of which two are still under observation in August 2023 (BS-0702 was transplanted to Bamboo Center, Royal Project Foundation ศูนย์ไผ่ มูลนิธิโครงการหลวง T. Mae Hia, A. Mueang, Chiang Mai, by Mr. Kittisak Jindawong, on 16 May 2021). The seed morphology (of all those specimens that were received as seeds) is the same, and the characteristics of the plants in the young stage of all specimens are very similar, as can be seen in the photos, which supports my assumption that all specimens represent only a single species.
(1) "Bambusa polymorpha" — BS-0704
Specimen: BS-0704 (living plant: seedling) [BBG], from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "4. 灰秆竹 (huī gǎn zhú) Bambusa polymorpha", received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed.
BS-0704: "Bambusa polymorpha", young culm with drying culm-leaves
BS-0704: "Bambusa polymorpha", young shoot
(2) "Bambusa polymorpha" — BS-0704-1
Specimens: BS-0704-1 [BBG, SSG] (seeds), from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Bambusa polymorpha, 灰秆竹 (huī gǎn zhú)", collected Feb. 2012, received 13 June 2012, seedlings raised at Baan Sammi. BS-0781-18, BS-0781-29, as "Bambusa polymorpha, 灰秆竹 (huī gǎn zhú)", received from FMXG via M. S., 27 Oct. 2013.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 100–135 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed germination: 10 seeds (BS-0781-18, BS-0781-29), tested 29 Oct. – 14 Nov. 2013, night/day temperature range 18–28 °C, diffuse light, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first sprout emerged after 4 days, 5 seeds germinated.
Comments: The seeds as cited above are too big and too heavy to be Bambusa polymorpha. They are similar to Thyrsostachys.
Seeds (BS-0704-1) received as "Bambusa polymorpha"
Seeds (BS-0704-1) received as "Bambusa polymorpha": Seeds germinating on moistened tissue paper
Seedling in May 2015, from seeds received as "Bambusa polymorpha" (BS-0704-1): Young shoot
(3) "Bambusa polymorpha" — BS-0709
Specimen: BS-0709 [BBG] (living plant: seedling), from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "9. 花叶灰秆竹 (huā yè huī gǎn zhú) Bambusa polymorpha (striped leaves)", received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed, seedling reverted to green leaf.
BS-0709: "Bambusa polymorpha", culm-leaf sheath apex with blade
(4) "Bambusa sp. Ruili" — BS-0760
Specimens: BS-0760 [SSG] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from Ruili (瑞丽), Dehong Prefecture, western Yunnan, China, received from FMXG, Yunnan, as "Bambusa sp. from Ruili (瑞丽)", seeds collected May 2012, received 13 June 2012 (BS-0760), collected Dec. 2013, received Dec. 2013 (BS-0760-1), and seeds of unrecorded collection date received from FMXG via M. S., 27 Oct. 2013 (BS-0781-20).
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 85–95 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed germination: (1) Seeds (BS-0760) laid on moistened tissue paper, in June 2012, 31–35 °C day temperature, diffuse light, 22–24 °C night temperature, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first coleoptiles emerged after 5 days, germination rate rather high (60–90%). (2) 5 seeds (BS-0781-20), tested 29 Oct. – 10 Nov. 2013, set on moistened tissue paper, night/day temperature range 21–28 °C, diffuse light, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first sprout emerged after 3 days, 4 seeds germinated.
Comments:
(1) Lemma and palea of the seeds of Ruili are darker (brownish-gray), and culm-leaves in young shoots are also darker. No further difference in the seeds and seedlings between the other specimens could be detected. Flowering branches not seen.
(2) Characteristics according to the seed supplier: Culm height 20 m, diameter 10 cm, similar to Bambusa polymorpha, but with gray culms. However, the culm-leaves do not have auricles as in Bambusa polymorpha.
"Bambusa" sp., Ruili (BS-0760): Young shoot showing dark-colored culm-leaf sheaths
"Bambusa" sp., Ruili (BS-0760): Seeds (left); seeds germinating on moistened tissue paper (right)
Seeds (BS-0760) received as "Bambusa" sp., Ruili: Germinating seeds on tissue paper, 10th day
Seedlings, raised from seeds received as "Bambusa" sp., Ruili: 38th day
(5) "Dinochloa mengyangensis" — BS-0711
Specimen: BS-0711 [BBG], (living plant), received as seedling "花叶藤竹 (huā yè téng zhú), Dinochloa mengyangensis (striped leaves)", 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed (the seedling developed green leaves only).
BS-0711: "Dinochloa mengyangensis", young shoot with apex of culm-leaf and blade
BS-0711: "Dinochloa mengyangensis", young shoot with apex of culm-leaf and blade
(6) "Gigantochloa albociliata" — BS-0528
Specimen: BS-0528 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from E. P., Germany, as "Gigantochloa albociliata", collected 2010, possibly of Chinese origin, received 19 Jan. 2011.
Seed weight: not recorded.
Seeds (BS-0671) (left), young seedlings raised from seeds (BS-0528) (right), both packages with seeds received as "Gigantochloa albociliata"
(7) "Gigantochloa albociliata" — BS-0671
Specimen: BS-0671 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa albociliata, 白毛巨竹 (bai mao ju zhu)", collected Apr. 2011, received 30 May 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Seeds placed in moistened coir dust at 100%, in June 2011, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 6 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
BS-0671: "Gigantochloa albociliata", young shoot with apex of culm-leaf and blade
(8) "Gigantochloa apus" — BS-0819
Specimen: BS-0819 [-] (seeds), from YNB, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa apus, 爪哇巨竹 (zhǎo wā jù zhú)", received 14 May and 1 July 2015.
Comments: A photo of the seeds was published in H. C. Tan, 2012: 16 [#1195].
BS-0819: "Gigantochloa apus", seeds
BS-0819: "Gigantochloa apus", a seed, its husks removed
(9) "Gigantochloa apus" — BS-0707
Specimen: BS-0707 [SSG] (living plant), from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "7. 花叶印尼巨竹 (huā yè yìn ní jù zhú) Gigantochloa apus (striped leaves)", received 23 Nov. 2011.
(10) "Gigantochloa atroviolacea" — BS-0782-24
Specimen: BS-0782-24 [-] (seeds), collected in the second half of 2013, collector anonymous, origin and collection date unrecorded, received from M.S. as "Gigantochloa atroviolacea", 27 Oct. 2013.
Seed weight: 24–25 g ≈ 200–235 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Not tested.
"Gigantochloa atroviolacea" seeds
Comments:
(1) These seeds certainly do not represent Gigantochloa atroviolacea, and the morphology of the seeds corresponds more closely to Thyrsostachys than to Gigantochloa.
(2) No records of flowering (and producing seeds) of Gigantochloa atroviolacea could be found, although seeds under this name have been offered for sale on the Internet for quite some time.
(3) Four photos displaying a wild population of a flowering bamboo species with black culms in Java were published on Facebook by Flower Seeds, assumed to represent Gigantochloa atroviolacea (pring wulung). It is not known whether plants in that population produced seeds.
(4) Morphologically different seeds under the name "Gigantochloa atroviolacea" were distributed by European seed suppliers; their seeds turned out to be thorny Bambusa bambos.
(11) "Gigantochloa brevisvagina" — BS-0654
Specimen: BS-0654 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, as "Gigantochloa brevisvagina, 短鞘巨竹 (duan qiao ju zhu)", collected 2010, not received, collected Apr. 2011 (BS-0654), received 19 May 2011, collected late 2011, not received.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Seed placed in moistened coir dust 100%, in May 2011, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 7 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
Comments: A valid publication of the name, "Gigantochloa brevisvagina", is not known.
Seeds (BS-0654) received as "Gigantochloa brevisvagina" (above), young seedlings on coir dust (below)
Two years old seedling, raised from seeds (BS-0654) received as "Gigantochloa brevisvagina"
(12) "Gigantochloa felix" — BS-0703-1
Specimen: BS-0703-1 [BBG, SSG] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, as "Gigantochloa felix, 滇巨竹 (dian ju zhu), 滇竹 (dian zhu)", collected Nov. 2011, received 23 Nov. 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Viability lasts longer than 1 year.
Seed germination: (1) Seed laid on moistened tissue paper, in April 2012, 29–35 °C day, diffuse light, 18–22 °C night, atmospheric humidity erratic, 40–90%, coleoptiles emerged after 14 days, germination rate moderate (40–60%). — (2) One-year-old seeds laid on moistened tissue paper, 18 Nov. 2012, temperatures unrecorded, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 7 days, germination rate high (73%).
Comments:
(1) Gigantochloa felix (Keng) Keng f. is a poorly known species endemic to southern Yunnan, with records only from the type collection, and it is assumed that this species may have become extinct in the wild.
(2) Gigantochloa felix has thick-walled culm-internodes and glabrous culm-leaf sheaths (KewScience POWO, accessed 7 July 2020 [#1305]). In BS-0703-1 the internodes are thick-walled, but the culm-leaf sheaths are pubescent, and the seeds are morphologically similar to Thyrsostachys, not Gigantochloa.
Seeds (BS-0703-1) received as "Gigantochloa felix" (left), young seedling on tissue paper, 17th day (right)
(13) "Gigantochloa longusvagina" — BS-0655
Specimen: BS-0655 [SSG] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa longusvagina, 长鞘巨竹 (zhang qiao ju zhu)", collected Apr. 2011, received 19 May 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Seed placed in moistened coir dust at 100%, in May 2011, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 7 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
Comments: A valid publication of the name, "Gigantochloa longusvagina", is not known.
Seeds (BS-0655) received as "Gigantochloa longusvagina"
Seedlings (BS-0655), "Gigantochloa longusvagina", 14th day
(14) "Gigantochloa nigrociliata" — BS-0642
Specimen: BS-0642 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa nigrociliata, 黑毛巨竹 (hei mao ju zhu)", collected 2010, and Apr. 2011, received 25 Apr. 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 80–100 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Over one year under storage at 1–6 °C. — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: Seed placed in moistened coir dust at 100%, in April 2011, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 9 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
Seeds (BS-0642) received as "Gigantochloa nigrociliata": Young seedlings on coir dust (left), seeds (right)
(15) "Gigantochloa nigrociliata" — BS-0621
Specimens: BS-0621 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa nigrociliata, 黑毛巨竹 (hei mao ju zhu)", the name was later corrected later to "Gigantochloa apus"; received March 2011. BS-0781-17 and BS-0781-28: (seeds), from FMXG, received via M. S. 27 Oct. 2013. BS-0819: (seeds), from FMXG, received in May and June 2015.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 90–120 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Six months and longer under normal atmospheric conditions; one and a half years under storage at 1–6 °C. — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: (1) Seeds (BS-0621) set in moistened coir at 100%, in March 2011, 28–34 °C day, diffuse light, 19–22 °C night, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 6 days, germination rate very high (>90%). — (2) Seeds (BS-0781-17, BS-0781-28), 11 Nov. 2013: Germination rate about 15–35% at night/day temperature range 18–28 °C, diffuse light, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first sprout emerged after 3 days.
Comments: 黑毛 (hei mao) in the Chinese name means black hair.
Seeds of "Gigantochloa apus" (BS-0621)
3 weeks old seedlings of "Gigantochloa apus" (BS-0621)
(15a) "Gigantochloa nigrociliata" — BS-0621-1
Specimen: BS-0621-1 [-] (living plant), raised from one of the seeds of BS-0621 and separated; the seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Gigantochloa nigrociliata, 黑毛巨竹 (hei mao ju zhu)", the name was later corrected later to "Gigantochloa apus"; received March 2011.
This is a single selection from the seedlings of BS-0621. BS-0621-1 unusually developed rhizomes above the ground on culm-nodes and branch-nodes.
(16) "Gigantochloa takserah" — BS-0624
Specimen: BS-0624 [-] (living plants), raised from seeds, the seeds from China as "泰国巨竹 (tài guó jù zhú), Gigantochloa takserah", received 14 Mar. 2011.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 100–110 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: Unknown, viability is assumed to last at least several months.
Seed germination: Seed placed in a moistened medium, coir 50%, rough sand 50%, in March 2011, 15–33 °C day, diffuse light, 12–19 °C night, atmospheric humidity >70%, coleoptiles emerged after 10 days, germination rate very high (>90%).
Comments:
(1) The Chinese name, 泰国巨竹 (tài guó jù zhú), translates as "Thai giant bamboo", hence one can assume that this bamboo was introduced from Thailand to China.
(2) Originally, the name Gigantochloa tekserah was applied by É. G. Camus (1913), with a brief description, to a bamboo grown in Meghalaya, north-eastern India. This name is now considered a synonym of Gigantochloa macrostachya Kurz. The original spelling "tekserah" is possibly a French phonetic transcription of the native name (maybe from Garo language in Bengali script) of this bamboo, and "takserah" seems to be the English phonetic transcription.
(3) Little is known about this bamboo cultivated in southern China under the name "Gigantochloa takserah". It is not clear, if "Gigantochloa takserah" refers to the bamboo named by É. G. Camus. It may be that this bamboo was introduced from India into China, and it may turn out to be Gigantochloa macrostachya, which has white stripes on the lower internodes, but this character is not present in the seedlings of BS-0624.
(4) A photo of the seeds of "Gigantochloa takserah" was published in H. C. Tan, 2012: 16 [#1195].
Seeds (BS-0624) received as "Gigantochloa takserah" (left), germinating seeds on coir dust, 11th day (right)
Seedlings raised from seeds (BS-0624) received as "Gigantochloa takserah", 16th day
(17) "Gigantochloa takserah" — BS-0708
Specimen: BS-0708 [SSG], (living plant), received from China as "8. 花叶泰国巨竹 (huā yè tài guó jù zhú) Gigantochloa takserah (striped leaves)" in 2011, said to have been raised in China from seeds.
Characteristics: Foliage-leaf blades with cream stripes in varying widths and obscure patterns.
(18) "Leptocanna chinensis" — BS-0722
Specimen: BS-0722 [E2], (living plant), from cultivated stock as seedling "薄竹 (bo zhú), Leptocanna chinensis", from FMXG, the plant received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed.
BS-0722: "Leptocanna chinensis", young culm with culm-leaf sheath apex and blade
BS-0722: "Leptocanna chinensis", young shoot
(19) "Lingnania distegia" — BS-0721
Specimen: BS-0721 [-], (living plant), received as seedling "料慈竹 (liào cí zhú), Lingnania distegia", 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed.
BS-0721: "Lingnania distegia", young shoot with culm-leaf sheath apex and blade
(20) "Lingnania intermedia" — BS-0712
Specimen: BS-0712 [BBG] (living plant), from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "12. 花叶绵竹 (huā yè mián zhú) Lingnania intermedia (striped leaves)", said having been raised in China from seeds [neither flowers nor seeds were seen], the plant received 23 Nov. 2011; the seedling developed green leaves only.
BS-0712: Foliage-leaf sheaths with soft hairs, not glabrous
BS-0712: Internode and culm-leaf sheath with white hairs, the node with a ring of dense white hairs
BS-0712: Young shoot, with short white hairs
Comments:
(1) The plant BS-0712, after it has grown in size, has been found to have the same characteristics as all of the other specimens listed here. However, the first question that arose was whether BS-0712 and all other specimens are more similar to Bambusa intermedia than Thyrsostachys. Below are some facts about Bambusa intermedia.
(2) Bambusa intermedia Hsueh & T. P. Yi, J. Bamboo Res. 3 (1), 1984: 43; syn. Lingnania intermedia (Hsueh & T. P. Yi) T. P. Yi, Bamboos Fl. Sichuan, 1997: 74; Fl. Sichuanica 12, 1997 [publ. 1998]: 51. Chinese name: 绵竹 (mián zhú). Distribution: CHINA: Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan, at 500–2,300 m altitude, cultivated in river valleys and hilly areas. — A recent molecular study confirmed the placement of this taxon in the core group Bambusa (Clade B1) and not in the Lingnania clade (Clade B2), the latter comprising Lingnania chungii (syn. Bambusa chungii) and Lingnania affinis (syn. Bambusa emeiensis). — J. X. Liu & al., 2020 [#1351].
(3) Description 1: "Culms to 10(–15) m, to 10 cm in diam.; internodes deep green, 35–45(–55) cm, initially thinly white powdery, sparsely deciduously white hairy; wall to 2 cm thick; nodes flat, white tomentose; branching from basal nodes up. Branches many, main mid-culm branch to 2 cm in diam. Culm sheaths deciduous, ca. 1/2 as long as internodes, leathery, with yellow and brown hairs, apex truncate or slightly concave; auricles small; oral setae several; ligule 2–3 mm, fimbriate; blade reflexed or spreading, abaxially glabrous, base ca. 1/3 as wide as sheath apex. Leaf sheaths glabrous; ligule truncate; auricles narrowly ovate; oral setae deflexed; blade lanceolate, 7–18 × 1–2.5 cm. … [flowers described, seeds unknown]." — Flora of China, and line drawing in Flora of China, both accessed 19 Nov. 2020 [#1303].
(4) Description 2: "Habit: Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; erect at the tip, or inclined at the tip; 700–1500 cm long; 30–70(–110) mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 35–45(–55) cm long; distally mealy. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several. Culm-sheaths deciduous but leaving a persistent girdle; 20–30 cm long; 1 times as long as wide; hispid; with yellow hairs, or tawny hairs; concave at apex; without auricles; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule 2–3 mm high; ciliate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; constricted at base; erect, or reflexed; pubescent. Leaves cauline; 5–12 per branch. Leaf-sheaths 5–7 cm long; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base truncate, or cordate; with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 7–15 cm long; 10–25 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 10–14 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; filiform. … [flowers and seeds described]." — Kew GrassBase, accessed 19 Nov. 2020 [#1335].
(5) Similar characteristics in both BS-0712 and Bambusa intermedia:
Culm-internodes white hairy; walls thick; nodes white hairy; branches several, with a dominant branch; culm-leaf sheath half as long as internode, apex truncate, slightly concave, auricles inconspicuous, oral setae several, blade deflexed to reflexed; foliage-leaf blades hairy beneath.(6) Different characteristics between BS-0712 and Bambusa intermedia (the latter in parentheses):
Culm-leaf sheath covered with white hairs (yellow, brown, or tawny hairs in B. intermedia), ligule 1–1.5 mm high, entire (2–3 mm high, ciliate), blade base 3/4 as wide as the sheath apex (1/3 as wide as the sheath apex); foliage-leaf sheaths hairy (glabrous), auricles inconspicuous, oral setae none or few and short (auricles conspicuous, oral setae present), blades 18–23 × 1.7–3 cm (7–18 × 1–2.5 cm).(7) Conclusion: The differences between BS-0712 and Bambusa intermedia are quite few and not of minor importance. So, despite the numerous similarities that exist, it would be more than questionable to identify BS-0712 as Bambusa intermedia. However, if in a few years BS-0712 has grown larger, its identity should be re-examined.
(21) "Neosinocalamus affinis" — BS-0702
Specimen: BS-0702 [-], (living plant), from the cultivated stock as seedling "花叶慈竹 (huā yè cí zhú), Neosinocalamus affinis [Bambusa emeiensis] (striped leaves)", from FMXG, Yunnan, China, the plant received 23 Nov. 2011, raised in China from seed (the seedling developed green leaves only); with increasing size and age, it turned out that BS-0702 is definitely not Neosinocalamus affinis [aka Lingnania affinis, Bambusa emeiensis].
BS-0702: "Neosinocalamus affinis", section of young shoot, showing the apex of a culm-leaf sheath and the lower portion of the blade
(22) "Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0752
Specimen: BS-0752 [C1] [BBG] (seeds), seedlings raised; seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Thyrsostachys oliveri, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), from Vietnam", harvested Apr./May 2012 (BS-0752).
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 60–75 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: About 1–2 years at low temperature (4 °C). — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: Seeds (BS-0752) laid on moistened tissue paper, in June 2012, 28–29 °C day temperature, diffuse light, 24 °C night temperature, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first shoot emerged after 3 days, germination rate high (>60%), but developing roots and sprouts can easily suffer from mildew.
Comments:
(1) The Chinese name for this bamboo, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), translates as Bigger Thai Bamboo.
(2) Photos taken from the flowering mother plants in Vietnam are not available.
(3) In two recent publications, one from Thailand and the other from China, Thyrsostachys oliveri was described and pictured, and it is obvious from their photos that two different species are involved! Therefore, the identification based on the vegetative characteristics of this species remains controversial.
Seeds (BS-0752) received as "Thyrsostachys oliveri": Seeds bare of husks (left), germinating seeds on tissue paper (right)
(23) "Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0752-2
Specimens: BS-0752-2 [-], BS-0781-15 [-], BS-0781-25 [-] (seeds), seedlings raised; seeds from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Thyrsostachys oliveri, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), from Vietnam", harvested May 2013 (BS-0752-2), and, without harvest date, received Oct. 2013 (BS-0781-15, BS-0781-25).
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 60–75 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: About 1–2 years at low temperature (4 °C). — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: Seeds (BS-0781-15, BS-0781-25) set on moistened tissue paper, germination rate about 15–25% at night/day temperature range 18–28 °C, diffuse light, atmospheric humidity >70%, the first sprout emerged after 3 days (test 131029).
Seeds (BS-0752-2) received as "Thyrsostachys oliveri": Seeds, one seed with its husks removed (left), seed bare of husks (right)
(24) "Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0793
Specimen: BS-0793 [BBG] (living plants), seedlings raised from seeds received from FMXG, Yunnan, as "Thyrsostachys oliveri, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), from Yunnan, China", harvested May 2014.
Seed weight: 10 g ≈ 60–75 dried spikelets (husk-wrapped seeds).
Seed viability: About 1–2 years at low temperature (4 °C). — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: 5 of 10 seeds (BS-0793) germinated by the 10th day (test 140516).
Comments:
(1) The Chinese name for this bamboo, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), translates as Bigger Thai Bamboo.
(2) Photos taken from the flowering mother plants in Yunnan are not available.
Seeds (BS-0793) received as "Thyrsostachys oliveri": Seed with their husks removed (top left and right), seeds wrapped with husks (bottom)
(25) "Thyrsostachys oliveri" — BS-0816
Specimen: BS-0816 [C1] [BBG] (living plants), seedlings raised from seeds received from FMXG, Yunnan, China, as "Thyrsostachys oliveri, 大泰竹 (dà tài zhú), from Yunnan, China", coll. Mar. 2015, received 2 May and 1 July 2015.
Characteristics (young plant): Culm-leaves persistent. Culm-leaf sheath shorter than internode, light brown and scattered with short soft whitish hairs when young. Culm-leaf blade deflexed, early deciduous. Foliage-leaves about 7–10 per branchlet. Foliage-leaf sheaths green, hispid. Foliage-leaf auricles inconspicuous very low rims, without bristles. Foliage-leaf ligule short, entire. Foliage-leaf blades large, to 40 cm long and 5.5 cm wide, lanceolate, glabrous on both surfaces; base rounded to cuneate; apex attenuate.
Seed weight: 1.2 g = 20 seeds (bare of husks).
Seed viability: About 1–2 years at low temperature (4 °C). — acc. FMXG.
Seed germination: 3 of 6 seeds (BS-0816) germinated by the 8th day (test 150503).
Comments: The morphology of the seeds indicates Thyrsostachys. The characteristics of the young plant show some similarities with Thyrsostachys but do not sufficiently match them. Initially, the plant was supposed to represent a species of Gigantochloa, but this is an error.
Seeds (BS-0816) received as "Thyrsostachys oliveri": Seeds wrapped with husks (left); seed, its husks partly removed (right)
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