Bambusa majumdarii P.Kumari & P.Singh

Kumari, P. & Singh, P. 2009. Two new species of Bambusa (Poaceae) from India. Kew Bulletin 64: 565. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-009-9140-4

Type

India. Meghalaya: Garo hills, near Tura, 14 Sept. 2005, P. Kumari & P. Singh 34696 (holotypus CAL; isotypus CAL).

Morphology General Habit

Arborescent, erect, loose-clumped bamboo. Rhizome pachymorph

Morphology Culms

Culm-sheaths shorter than internodes, deciduous, triangular, broader than long, yellowish-brown, young ones whitish green with white stripes; sheath proper 19 – 20 cm long, 35 – 36 cm broad at base, attaining into 18 – 19 cm wide convex top, brown-blackish hairs appressed in patches on outer surface, smooth shining on inner surface; imperfect blade persistent, erect, triangular, c. 7 cm long and 12 cm broad at rounded base, continuing with auricles, terminating into incurved, pointed apex, striate, glabrous on both surfaces except few cilia at apex on inner surface, margins ciliate at base; ligule c. 2 mm long, unevenly serrated, ciliate at mouth, with few short hairs in groups at base underneath imperfect blade; auricles somewhat unequal, dissimilar, c. 1 cm high, 2.5 – 3.5 cm broad, wavy, pubescent on outer surface, fringed with c. 5 mm long, dense ciliolate bristles Culms c. 10 m high, 5 – 8 cm in diameter, light green with whitish pruinose deposition; nodes even; internodes 30 – 45 cm long, thick-walled; nodal bud oval; branching in triple pattern with one dominating and subsequent smaller branches, present on all nodes except few lower ones

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 5 – 6 per twig; leaf-blades lanceolate, 9 – 29 cm long, 1.5 – 4.2 cm broad, lower subequally rounded and apical attenuate at base, gradually and acuminately terminating into incurved, scabrous, c. 2 mm long apex; glabrous on adaxial surface except scabrid nerves along one margin, hairy on abaxial surface, serrated on both margins; midvein prominent, glabrous, secondary veins 8 – 10 pairs, tertiary veins 7, cross-veins not prominent; pseudopetiole c. 2 mm long; leaf-sheath glabrous, striate, keeled, smooth at margins, ending into rounded, smooth callus; ligule 1 – 2 mm long, oblique, glabrous, ciliate at mouth; auricles crescent shaped, reflexed, bearing c. 1 cm long, thin ciliolate fringes

Distribution

India: Meghalaya.

Ecology

In or along borders of disturbed forests; c. 1400 m.

Conservation

Data Deficient (DD). This species was collected from a single locality near Tura, Garo hills where it was found growing in 2 – 3 clumps each having c. 20 culms. As it is a new species described here, a proper status can only be possible after other areas are explored and more data is collected.

Note

Although known from only vegetative material, this species has quite distinct morphological characters which differentiate it from any other. It comes near Bambusatulda in appearance and striations of culm-sheaths in young shoots. However, is distinguished in having white pruinose culms; even nodes without ring; culm-sheath auricles narrower, slightly wavy, puberulous on outer surface, fringed with dense, ciliolate bristles; leaf-sheath auricles crescent shaped, reflexed, bearing c. 1 cm long, thin fringes and 1 – 2 mm high oblique ligule. The specific epithet honours Dr R. B. Majumdar for his remarkable contribution to the field of bamboo taxonomy.