Bambusa mohanramii 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: Jaintia hills, Khleiriaht, 9 April 2004, P. Kumari 34608 (holotypus CAL; isotypus CAL).

Morphology General Habit

Arboreal, erect, clump-forming bamboo

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Rhizome pachymorph

Morphology Culms

Culms 10 – 15 m high, 5 – 6 cm in diameter, dark-greyish green; nodes slightly raised, with whitish ring below and root scars above nodal line, rootlets on lower 9 – 10 nodes; internodes terete, 30 – 40 cm long, thick-walled, semisolid; nodal bud ovate; branches in triple pattern, present on all nodes except a few lower ones Culm-sheaths deciduous, triangular, shorter than internodes, yellowish-brown, leathery; sheath proper 19 – 21 cm long, 24 – 28 cm broad at base, attaining gradually from one side and somewhat roundly from another into 11 – 13 cm wide, slightly convex, rounded top; glabrous on both surfaces except a very few brown-blackish hairs appressed on one corner at the base on outer surface, shining, smooth on inner surface; imperfect blade persistent, erect, smaller than sheath proper, triangular, equally broad or broader than the top of sheath proper, rounded at base, terminating into incurved pointed apex, glabrous on both surfaces, minutely ciliate at margins; ligule up to 1 cm long, dentate, ciliate at mouth, glabrous underneath blade; auricles similar, short, rounded, somewhat lobed with two small lobes on either side, short ciliate, cilia deciduous

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 8 – 10 per twig; leaf-blades lanceolate, 15 – 27 cm long, 2 – 3 cm broad, lower subequally rounded and apical attenuate at base, gradually and acuminately terminating into twisted, scabrous, c. 5 mm long apex; glabrous on adaxial surface except scabrid nerves along one margin, minute hairy on abaxial surface, serrated on both margins; midvein prominent, glabrous, secondary veins 10 – 11 pairs, tertiary veins 7 – 9, very faint pellucid dots like cross veins observed; pseudopetiole with few cilia first, afterwards glabrous; leaf-sheath glabrous, striate, thin keeled, ciliate at margins, ending in rounded, smooth callus short ciliate at mouth; ligule c. 1 mm long, slightly oblique, glabrous or with few cilia near petiole; auricles obscure, mouth end rounded, having c. 2 mm long, deciduous cilia

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence branched leafless panicle, branches bearing globose or semiglobose (in young) heads; rachis striate, hispid towards apex

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Spikelets

Spikelets 2 – 2.5 cm long, 5 – 8-flowered, all fertile; empty glumes 2 – 4, 4 – 8 mm long, ovate, mucronate, multinerved, minutely ciliate on margins at apices, glabrous on outer surface, white pubescent at apex on inner surface; lemma ovate, acuminate at apex, 12 – 13 mm long, multinerved, glabrous on outer surface, faintly cross-veined and hairy on inner surface, margins short-ciliate on upper half, smooth below; palea shorter than lemma, c. 10 mm long, oblong, 2-keeled, long ciliate at keels, 3 – 5 (– 7)-nerved in between keels, 2-nerved on either side, faintly cross-veined and minutely pubescent on inner surface, glabrous on outer surface except few scattered minute cilia, margins short ciliate; stamens 6, c. 6 mm long, base saggitate, apex penicillate; ovary 1 – 2 mm long, ovate, hairy, continuing into 2 – 3 mm long, hairy style which divides into 3, plumose, 7 – 8 mm long purple stigmas; lodicules 3, c. 6 mm long, lanceolate, 3 – 5-nerved, the nerves faint, fimbriate along margins

Distribution

India: Meghalaya.

Ecology

Along roadsides; 1100 – 1200 m. Also cultivated.

Conservation

Data Deficient (DD). 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

The species is named in honour of Prof. H. Y. Mohan Ram, University of Delhi, for his valuable contributions in the field of plant science and his keen interest in the AICOPTAX project of which the present finding is an outcome. The culm-sheath of Bambusamohanramii somewhat matches with that of B. balcooa in its texture and minute auricles. However, it differs remarkably in other vegetative and floral aspects which assure its distinct identity.