Kengiochloa Y.H.Tong & N.H.Xia, 2023

Tong, Yi-Hua, Niu, Zheng-Yang, Cai, Zhuo-Yu, Ni, Jing-Bo & Xia, Nian-He, 2023, Kengiochloa, a new bamboo genus to accommodate the morphologically unique species, Pseudosasa pubiflora (Poaceae), PhytoKeys 221, pp. 131-145 : 131

Kengiochloa Y.H.Tong & N.H.Xia gen. nov.

Type.

Kengiochloa pubiflora (Keng) Y. H. Tong & N. H. Xia (≡ Arundinaria pubiflora Keng).

Diagnosis.

This new genus is close to Sinosasa , but differs in having narrowly ovate culm buds, branch complement with 2-4 branches at mid-culm nodes, flat nodes, glabrous and nonpowdery infranodal region, culm leaf oral setae adnate at base, amplexicaul culm leaf blades that are usually longer than sheath, 1-4 foliage leaves per ultimate branchlet with blades flat when dry and short inner ligule, robust and erect paracladia (lateral spikelet pedicels) appressed to the axis and without pulvinus at base, upper lemma typically shorter than the lowest lemma and lodicules with a rounded apex.

Description.

Shrubby bamboo. Rhizomes leptomorph. Culms pluricaespitose, short and thin, less than 2 m tall and 8 mm in diam.; nodes flat. Culm buds narrowly ovate. Branches intravaginal, 2-4 at each mid-culm node. Culm leaf sheath persistent, papery; auricles absent; oral setae fragile, adnate at base; blade erect and amplexicaul, usually longer than sheath; ligule convex, short. Foliage leaves 1-4 per ultimate branchlet; auricles obscure; inner ligule short. Flowering branches developing at the nodes of every order of branches; the unit of inflorescence of synflorescence raceme-like with 3-5 spikelets; paracladia robust and erect, appressed to the axis and without pulvinus at base; florets 2-4 per spikelet including a rudimentary one at the apex; glumes 2, upper one shorter than the lowest lemma; lemma longer than palea; palea 2-keeled; lodicules 3, apex rounded; stamens 3, anthers pale yellow; styles 2, base slightly connate; stigmas 2, plumose. Caryopsis unknown.

Etymology.

Kengiochloa is named in honor of Professor Yi-Li Keng (1897-1975), a renowned botanist and the first Chinese who studied the bamboo taxonomy in China. The type species of this genus was first described by him, too. Its Chinese name is given as 以礼竹属 (pinyin: yĭ lĭ zhú shŭ).