Reports of flowering in bamboo species from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract

Flowering in bamboo is significant on its own. It may flower after a long interval of many years and cause major ecological changes or may be found in sporadic flowering at irregular intervals. Records of flowering in bamboo species is of high significance with respect to scientific study, ecological changes, social and economic aftereffects. Three major species Gigantochloa andamanica (Kurz) Kurz, Schizostachyum kurzii (Munro) R.B. Majumdar and Schizostachyum andamanicum M.Kumar & Remesh from different localities of the Andaman Islands and one dominant climber species, Dinochloa nicobariana R.B. Majumdar, from Nicobar Islands have been recorded in gregarious and sporadic flowering during 2013-2019. This paper presents the current nomenclature, types, vernacular names, detail taxonomic description, flowering records, habitat & ecology, distribution and specimens examined for each species. Also, a map showing the distribution of species and saplings planted in natural habitats for in-situ conservation is provided.