IKTIlODÜCriO>".
A. Jloribnnda, Teinostachpm attemiatum and Oclilandra stridula. Thus, tlie bamboo
flora of Cejdon may be said to approacli very nearly to that of the hills of the
Western Gháta of Southern India.
I n region (5), BENGAL, NORTH-EAST HIMALAYA AND ASSAM, tlie most characteristic
species are probably Bendrocalamns Eamiltonii in the north, Bambnsa
Tulda in the middle region, and Meloeaniia lamhisoides in the south; aU of them
gregarious species. This region has the large nimiber of 49 species so far kno-^-n,
but of these 3 are acclimatized only. The most noticeable point is the
abundance of species of Arundimria and Phjllostachjs, of which there are no
less than IS species described up to date. In order, however, to discuss
the characteristics of this region, we must divide it into sub-regions and refer
to each separately. In the frst sub-region, the plains coimtry of Lower
Bengal and the valleys, Bambnsa Tulda, B. Balcooa, and B. arundinacca are found
about villages. In the second, the liiUs of the North-East Himalaya in Sikkim and
Bhutan, the common species of the lower hills and " Terai" is Dendrocalamns
Uamiltoniii as we ascend up to 4,000 feet, Bamhisa nutans, Dendrocalamics sik-
Idmensis and Ariindinaria intermedia are met with, -with other less common species ;
higher up again, 4,000 to 6,000 feet, come Cephalosiacliijum capitatwn, PseJidostaohyum
polpnorjyhwn, Anmdinaria Hooheriana, Teinostachjrmi Didlooa, Dendrocalavitis
paiellaris and others; in the forests of 6,000 to 9,000 feet comes Anmdinaria
racemosa, the common gregario\is small bamboo of Darjeehng; while above 8,000
feet we get the small variety of the same with A. añstata and A. Falconeri. In
the third sub-region, of Assam and the Khasia and Naga HiUs, the low country
is characterized by Bambusas such as B. Tulda, B. nutans, B. teres, B. pallida^
B. hlia^iana, and B. Balcooa \ •ndth Gigantocliloa macrostacliya, Bendrocalamus
Mooheri, I). Eamiltonii and D. longispatlms, Bseudostachj%m polymerplmm,
Teimstacliyimi Griffitlm and T. Bidlooa, and Melocanna lamhcsoides •, while the
hiUs are remarkable for several species of Arundinaria such as A. elegans, A.
polystacliya, A. GriffitMana, A. callosa, A. Ichasiana, A. hirsuta, A. sulerecta,
and the interesting new species A. Frainii, A. Mannii, and A. Bolloana. To
these may be. added BhyllostacTiys hamhcsoidcs, Teinostachyum Helferi, and several
species of Cephalostachyum, the chief of which are C. capitatum and C. pergracile.
Bendrocalamus sihhimensis occurs in the Garo HiUs, and in SyUiet Bamlusa poly^
morpM and Melocalamns compactijlorus may be found. Finally, the fourth subregion
of Chittagong and its Hill Tracts is noticeable for the dense growth of
Melocanna hambusoides covering the low hills with ita culms which, being thrown
up from suckers, speedily occupy every vacant space of ground. In the valleys
and forests Bamhisa Tulda, Teinostachyum Bullooa, Gigantochloa macrostachya,
Bendi'ocalamus longispathus, lielocalamus compactijlorus and Binochloa M'^Clellandi
are. the most remarkable kinds.
Region (6), BUEMA, has so far produced 42 species,* of which 3 acclimatized;
but this is only a beginning, for new species are being discovered as Upper Burma
is explored, and it may be noted that, during the printing of this work, the beautiful
* a , with the two described in appendix.
INIKODrCirON. ^^^
Chinese Bendrocalamus latijlorus has been sent from the Shan HiUs, and Mr. J.
^Y. Oliver has added one more to his many discoveries in a very pretty new
kind with striped anthers, which has been described as Bamhisa Oliveriana, The
most common bamboos of Burma are Myinwa (Bendrocalamus strictusj, Tinwa
fCephalostachyum pergracilej, Kyathoimgwa (Bamhisa polymorphaj and Wapyngah
fOxytenanthera alhociliataj, "all these growing on rocky strata or on shaUower
"alluvium, while Kyalcatwa f Bamhisa arundinaceaj is restricted to the plains in
"deep alluvium near larger rivers" (Kurz—Preliminary Eeport on the forest and
other vegetation of Pegu.—Calcutta, 1875, p. 50). The largest species is the acclimatized
Bendrocalamus giganteus, of which magnificent plantations exist in various
places, and notably near Myanoung on the Irawadi; but not far off come Bendrocalamus
Brandisii, B. Eamiltonii, Gigantochloa macrostachya, Bambusa Tulda, B.
lurmanica and B. polymorpha. Of Arundinaria, two species are found, both scarce.
Of the new genus Thyrsostachys, there are two species, both of which are beautiful
kinds and valuable; of Oxytenanthera there are three species, and other genera
are also represented.
Eegion (7), MALATA, with Lower Tenasserim and the Andamans, has so far been
only incompletely explored. South Tenasserim is but little known, and only recently
two beautiful species, Bamhisa Binglami and Bendrocalamus longifmhriatus, have been
received from the Maliwon forests near the Pakchan river, which may be the precursors
of still more interesting kinds to follow. In the Andamans and Nicobars and adjacent
islands only five species are so far known to exist; the most common is Binochloa
Tjanglcorreh, a powerful climber, next come Oxytenanthera mgrodUata and Bambusa
schisostachyoides, these being the only three which occur in the main islands.
Dr. Prain has, however, discovered Bamhisa lineata on Eutland Island, and Bend/rocalamus
strictus in Great Cocos. The Straits Settlements and the territories of the
native princes in alliance with our Government contain many bamboos, and in this
ilalay region the most noticeable thing is the prevalence of species of the genera
Gigantochloa and Schizostachytm. The most common species is probably Bendrocalamus
Jlagellifer, which grows to a very large size, as does B. giganleus, which
is here in its own home. Bamhisa Wrayi forms forests on the hills of Perak,
and the introduced Bambusa nana forms thickets on the hiUs. Thanks to Mr. Ridley
of the Singapore Gardens, much information has already been obtained regarding
the Malay bamboos; but there is no doubt but that much has yet to be learned,
and that most of the common species of Java and Sumatra will yet be found to
belong also to the Indo-Malayan flora. In this work are described from the
ilalay region 31 species, of which 29 indigenous and two naturalized.
The TTSES to which bamboos are put have been so often described that there
is little, if anything, more to be added regarding them. So far as possible, an
account of the uses to which the different species have been put has been given
under each; and further reference is invited to the writings mentioned already
in referring to " Tabashir," all of which contain much information. Besides
them, too, Sir D. Brandis' "Eorest Elora of North-'West and Central India,"