Chimonobambusa multiramosa A.J. Cao, Y.L. Ding et Y.T. Zhang

Zhang, Yi-Ting, Cao, An-Jiang & Ding, Yu-Long, 2024, Chimonobambusa multiramosa (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new bamboo species from northeast Yunnan, China, Phytotaxa 649 (1), pp. 44-50 : 45

Chimonobambusa multiramosa A.J. Cao, Y.L. Ding et Y.T. Zhang , sp. nov. ( Fig. 1–4)

Type. CHINA. Yunnan: Zhaotong City, Ludian County, elevation 2545–2600 m, 27°8'21''N, 103°22'15''E, 9 December 2021, Y. L. Ding, Y. T. Zhang and A. J. Cao ZT1209 (holotype: NF!) .

Diagnosis. Chimonobambusa multiramosa A. J. Cao, Y. L. Ding et Y. T. Zhang is morphologically similar to C. quadrangularis Makino and C. ningnanica Hsueh et L. Z. Gao particularly in usually internodes hirsute, culm sheaths caducous, but can be easily distinguished in having 10–18 per culm node in branches, culm sheaths usually longer than the corresponding internodes, and 3–6 leaves per ultimate branch.

Description. Shrubby or arborescent bamboo. Rhizomes leptomorph, rhizome neck 1.0– 3.4 cm long, without groove. Culms erect, 3.6 m tall and 1.8–2.5 cm in diameter; internodes 11.6–13.5 cm long, terete or basal ones slightly 4–angled, nearly not grooved above branches, green, yellow-green tuberculate short strigose, longitudinal fine lines indistinct, hollow; supra-nodal ridge raised on nodes with branches, or slightly raised at nodes without branches, glabrous; sheath sears distinct, brown pubescent; nodal region ca. 2.1–3.6 mm high, with 6–12 spines or aerial roots at the median and basal parts of the culms. Culm sheaths deciduous, 12.6–17.2 cm long, longer than internode, papery or thickly papery, oblong-ovoid or triangular, without blotches, abaxially densely yellowish-brown hairs, longitudinal veins distinct, transverse veinlets indistinct, adaxially smooth and shiny, margins densely brown ciliated; auricles absent; sheath blade reduced, subulate, ca. 1.4 mm long. Culm buds apex slightly hairy, stout, ovate-subulate, adnate to the internode surface, branch sheaths many per bud; culm bud initially 1, differentiated and grew into many small buds in the winter of that year, shooting out branches from several nodes near the top of culms in the spring of the next year. Branches 10–18 per node, 30–50 cm long. Foliage leaves 3–6 at the top of branchlets; blades lanceolate; leaf sheaths 5.9–7.1 cm long, abaxially ridged and longitudinal veins distinct, glabrous, auricles absent; foliage leaf oral setae 2–6, erect; inner ligule truncate; blade papery, narrowly lanceolate, apex long acuminate, 8.2–16.9 cm long, 1.1–1.8 cm wide, glabrous, lateral veins 5–6 pairs, margins serrated. Inflorescence unknown.

Phenology. New shoots produced during Oct. to Nov.

Distribution and habitat. Only found in Ludian County, northeast Yunnan ( Figure 4), elevation 2545–2600 m, under the evergreen broadleaved forests or by the roadside commonly.

Infrageneric assignment. C. sect. Oreocalamus.

Chinese name. 多枝方竹(Chinese pronunciation: duō zhī fāng zhú).

Similar species and notes

Chimonobambusa multiclada is similar to C. quadrangularis (Fenzi) Makino Hsueh et W. P. Zhang and C. ningnanica Hsueh et L. Z. Gao. The morphological comparison among C. multiclada and it similar species is shown in Table 1 .