Culm anatomy: a contribution to the identification of vegetative Andean woody bamboos in southernmost America

Abstract

Six genera of woody bamboos (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae) occur along the Andes, but only two reach the southernmost portion of this mountain range, Chusquea Kunth and Rhipidocladum McClure. In woody bamboos, the identification of new anatomical characters bears a considerable taxonomic significance contributing to the determination of vegetative material. In the present work, culm anatomy of Andean woody bamboo species occurring in Argentina and neighbouring areas is described. Eight species are surveyed: C. culeou E. Desv., C. deficiens Parodi, C. lorentziana Griseb., C. montana Phil., C. quila Kunth, C. valdiviensis Phil., R. neumannii Sulekic, Rúgolo & L. G. Clark and R. racemiflorum (Steud.) McClure. Culm epidermal and cross sectional characters of each species are described and an identification key based on anatomical characters is provided. Culm anatomical characters of C. montana, C. quila and C. valdiviensis are presented for the first time. Also, anatomical evidence that support the idea of C. quila and C. valdiviensis as different species is presented and information on useful characters to distinguish between them is provided. The taxa studied are compared in tables based on culm anatomical characters of taxonomic value.