Knowledge base and online identification key of native Asian thorny bamboos within Bambusa (Bambusoideae, Poaceae)

TL;DR

This paper creates a checklist and online tool to identify 13 native Asian thorny bamboo species using detailed morphological data and an interactive key.

Contribution

The novel contribution is a validated, interactive identification key and database for Asian thorny bamboos, including illustrations and taxonomic details.

Findings

A checklist of 13 thorny bamboo species native to Asia was compiled with detailed morphological descriptions.

An interactive identification key was developed and tested using specimens from the MNHN Herbarium in Paris.

The database includes taxonomic synonymy, bibliographic references, and is designed for continuous updates.

Abstract

This study presents a checklist of 13 species of thorny bamboos native to Asia and documents them to contribute to a broader understanding of their morphology. To support this list and facilitate species recognition, a morphological database was compiled from a wide range of published sources and paired with an interactive identification key. This key incorporates diagnostic illustrations, descriptive characters, and precise definitions, thereby enabling more accurate identification. In addition to morphological traits, the database includes general notes, taxonomic synonymy, and bibliographic references for each species. Initial testing was conducted with specimens housed at the MNHN Herbarium in Paris, representing a first step toward validation. The current version provides a useful reference for both field and herbarium studies, and the framework has been designed for continuous updating as new data become available. Detailed results of the identification key are available at https://thornybamboo_asia.identificationkey.org.

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