Hsuehochloa D. Z. Li & Y. X. Zhang, 2018

Zhang, Yu-Xiao, Ma, Peng-Fei & Li, De-Zhu, 2018, A new genus of temperate woody bamboos (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Arundinarieae) from a limestone montane area of China, PhytoKeys 109, pp. 67-76 : 69

Hsuehochloa D. Z. Li & Y. X. Zhang gen. nov.

Diagnosis.

Hsuehochloa resembles genera Ampelocalamus , Drepanostachyum and Himalayacalamus , but differs from those genera by its thin culms (4-5 mm), fewer branches in each branch complement (1, 3-7), inconspicuous nodal sheath scar, falcate auricles and leathery foliage leaves.

Type.

Hsuehochloa calcarea (C. D. Chu & C. S. Chao) D. Z. Li & Y. X. Zhang, comb. nov. (77190834-1)

Basionym. Ampelocalamus calcareus C. D. Chu & C. S. Chao, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 21: 204-206. 1983. Type: CHINA, Guizhou, Libo, 500 m, C. D. Chu, C. S. Chao, J. Q. Zhang & K. M. Lan 81018 (holotype, NF!; isotype, PE!)

Description.

Rhizomes pachymorph. Culms caespitose, apically drooping, procumbent or scrambling, 4-6 m long, 4-5 mm in diameter, internodes terete, 8-18 cm long, densely white pubescent initially at the upper part, later subglabrous; nodes and sheath scars inconspicuous. Branch complements with one branch proximally and 3-7 branches apically, branches 0.5-1 m long, slender, subequal. Culm sheaths persistent, 1/2 as long as internodes, densely white pubescent, glabrescent, margins densely white ciliate; auricles falcate, amplexicaul; oral setae many, radiate, ca. 1 cm; ligule short, apex densely white fimbriate; blade reflexed, green, ovate-lanceolate. Foliage leaves 2-5 per ultimate branch; sheaths glabrous, glossy, margins ciliate; auricles present; oral setae deciduous, radiate, 5-7 mm; ligule short, apex long, white ciliate; blade 7-20 × 1.2-3 cm, thinly leathery, abaxially slightly glaucous, glabrous on both surfaces, secondary veins indistinct, 4-7 pairs. Inflorescence imperfectly known, semelauctant, racemose possibly with 1 or few spikelets; glumes not seen; florets 5; lemma ca. 1 cm long, purple green; palea ca. 0.8 cm long; lodicules not seen; stamens 3, anthers purple, 4 mm long; ovary and style not seen; stigmas 2, plumose.

Etymology.

Hsuehochloa was named in honour of the late Prof. Chi-Ju Hsueh (Ji-Ru Xue in Pinyin transliteration) (1921-1999), a pioneer Chinese botanist on bamboos of SW China and mentor of the senior author in 1983-1986. Hsueh stands for his family name and chloa means grass.

Distribution and habitat.

Endemic to south Guizhou, China, under broadleaved forests in a limestone montane area at 500-950 m altitude.

Additional specimens examined.

CHINA. Guizhou: Libo, 950 m alt., May 1982, X. H. Song 919 (NF), J. P. Ruan 90041 (N), 600-700 m alt., November 6 2006, T. P. Yi 06093 & 06094 (SIFS), 679 m alt., 25°26.691'N, 107°56.823'E, 14 April 2010, P. F. Ma & Z. M. Cai 10050 (KUN), 653 m alt., 25°25.783'N, 107°56.533'E, 28 March 2015, C. Guo & Y. Guo GC 82 (KUN), 667 m alt., 25°25.7'N, 107°56.25'E, 16 May 2015, X. Y. Ye & M. Y. Zhou YXY190 (KUN).Yunnan (Kunming): cultivated in the greenhouse of GBOWS, Kunming, 1900 m alt., January 2013, P. F. Ma s.n. (KUN).