Gigantochloa lako (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new combination for a horticulturally important bamboo species from Southeast Asia

Researchers reclassify Bambusa lako, a widely cultivated ornamental bamboo known as Timor black bamboo, into the genus Gigantochloa based on floral characteristics observed in a rare flowering specimen. The study, conducted at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, identified key reproductive traits—such as non-disarticulating rachilla segments and terminal vestigial florets—that align with Gigantochloa rather than Bambusa. This taxonomic adjustment clarifies the species' classification while maintaining its horticultural significance in Southeast Asia. The discovery underscores the importance of flowering material in bamboo taxonomy, bridging gaps left by initial descriptions lacking reproductive data.

CAI, Z.-Y., WIDJAJA, E. A., XIA, N.-H., & WONG, K. M. (2024). Gigantochloa lako (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new combination for a horticulturally important bamboo species from Southeast Asia. Phytotaxa, 663(2), 101–105. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.663.2.6