''Shibataea kumasaca'' (倭竹), the ruscus-leaf bamboo
or ruscus bamboo, is a
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
in the grass
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
,
native to mountain slopes in
Fujian
Fujian (; alternately romanized as Fukien or Hokkien) is a province on the southeastern coast of China. Fujian is bordered by Zhejiang to the north, Jiangxi to the west, Guangdong to the south, and the Taiwan Strait to the east. Its cap ...
and
Zhejiang
Zhejiang ( or , ; , Chinese postal romanization, also romanized as Chekiang) is an East China, eastern, coastal Provinces of China, province of the People's Republic of China. Its capital and largest city is Hangzhou, and other notable citie ...
provinces in China,
and widely cultivated elsewhere. Growing to tall, it is a compact, clump-forming
evergreen
In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...
bamboo.
[
In the UK it has gained the ]Royal Horticultural Society
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity.
The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...
’s Award of Garden Merit.
Japanese synonym
Two groups around the world have different beliefs about the correct name of this species. Some cite Japanese origins with the correct name being ''Shibataea kumasasa''. Another group refers to it as ''Shibataea kumasaca'', the Latinized name
Latinisation (or Latinization) of names, also known as onomastic Latinisation, is the practice of rendering a ''non''-Latin name in a Latin style. It is commonly found with historical proper names, including personal names and toponyms, and in ...
. Taxonomic authorities have yet to settle the issue.
References
Further reading
*Chinese Academy of Sciences. 1959–. ''Flora reipublicae popularis sinicae.'' (F China) (Listed as: "kumasasa").
*Hu, C. H. et al. 1988. ''Acta Phytotax.'' Sin. 26(2):132. (Listed as: "kumasasa").
*Huxley, A., ed. 1992. ''The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening.'' (Dict Gard) (Listed as: "kumasasa").
*Ohrnberger, D. 1999. ''The bamboos of the world.'' (Bamboo World) (Listed as: lists as S. kumasaca (Steud.) Makino ex Nakai).
*Ohwi, J. 1965. ''Flora of Japan'' (Engl. ed.). (F JapanOhwi)
*Stapleton, C. M. A. (1997). The Good Luck or Fortune-inviting Bamboo, ''Shibataea kumasaca'' (Steud) Makino ex Nakai: a discussion of the correct botanical name. ''Bamboo Soc. (GB) Newsletter'' 27: 32–37. http://www.bamboo-identification.co.uk/SHIBATBN.pdf
*Walters, S. M. et al., eds. 1986–. ''European garden flora''. (Eur Gard F) (Listed as: lists as S. kumasasa (Zoll.) Nakai).
*Wang Dajun & Shen Shao-Jin. 1987. ''Bamboos of China.'' (Bamboo China)
*Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven & Hong D. Y., eds. 2006. ''Shibataea kumasaca ''in'' Flora of China'' (English edition). http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=220012487
External links
Bamboogarden.com: ''Shibataea kumasaca'' image
Bambusoideae
Endemic flora of China
Grasses of China
Taxa named by Heinrich Zollinger
Taxa named by Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel
Taxa named by Tomitaro Makino
Taxa named by Takenoshin Nakai
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