Abstract:

 The genus Indosasa McCl. has not been thoroughly studied by botanists both at

home and abroad since its establishment by F. A. McClure in 1940. In preparing the

manuscript of the Flora of China, the authors have studied this genus rather com-

prehensively.

      The present paper deals with the systematic position of the genus Indosasa McC1.

The bamboo inflorescences can be divided into two basic types, i.e. iterauctant (inde-

terminate)  and semelauctant (determinate) which both are of great diagnostic impor-

tance in bamboo classification.  For this reason, we agree with the view of some

botanists that the generalized tribe Arundinarieae should be split into two tribes,

Arundinarieae and Shibataeeae. The former possess the semelauctant inflorescences,

forming panicles or racemes, and the latter the  iterauctant ones,  forming spikelet

tufts.  Undoubtedly, the genus Indosasa McC1. should belong to the tribe Shibataeeae

systematically, it is closely related to the genus Sinoba mbusa Makino ex Nakai, not to Sasa Makino et Shibata of tribe Arundinarieae.

     After a careful examination of some type  specimens  and  all  phototypes  of

McClure’s species, we found in some species, the flowering specimens and vegetative

specimens of same species were published as different species.  For example, he publi-

shed the type species of the genus (I. crassiflora) based on the flowering specimens,

but at the same time he also published another species (Sinobambusa gibbosa=Indosasa

gibbosa) with vegetative specimens collected from the same locality by the same collec-

tor.  In fact, they are the same species.  He also made similar mistakes in I. shibataeo-

ides McCl. and I. tinctilimba McCl.  Thus we came to the conclusion that the bino-

mials of Sinobambusa gibbosa McCl. and Indosasa tinctilimba McCl. must be combined

with I. crassiflora McCl. and I. shibataeoides McCl. respectively.

     In the present paper, the authors have reported  10 species  of Indosasa from

China, six of them are being described as new.  In addition, a key to species is given.

In the key we have used vegetative characteristics that are generally available.  But

Indosasa hispida McCl. is excluded from the key, since its vegetative characteristics

are still unknown.  Under each species, distribution and ecological notes, in addition

to a brief discussion, are also given.