# Gigantochloa falcihumeris (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a New Paleotropical Woody Bamboo Species From Southwest Yunnan, China

## TL;DR

Scientists discovered a new bamboo species in Southwest Yunnan, China, with unique leaf features and confirmed its classification using genetic analysis.

## Contribution

The discovery and phylogenetic confirmation of a new woody bamboo species, Gigantochloa falcihumeris, in Southwest Yunnan.

## Key findings

- Gigantochloa falcihumeris is distinguished by its tall culms and unique falcate appendage on leaf sheath shoulders.
- Phylogenetic analysis using plastome and ITS sequences confirms the new species belongs to the Gigantochloa genus.
- The species is morphologically similar to G. verticillata and G. felix but differs in several key traits.

## Abstract

A new species Gigantochloa is described and illustrated from Southwest Yunnan, China. The new species is similar to
G. verticillata
and G. felix in general appearance, but differs by its taller culms, internodes without stripes, culm leaf sheath shoulders prominent upward forming ca. 1 cm long falcate appendage, culm blade erect, culm leaf auricle absent, and culm leaf ligule ca. 5 mm tall. Additionally, we constructed a phylogenetic tree based on plastome and ITS sequences, which revealed that the new species clusters within the Gigantochloa clade.

We describe Gigantochloa falcihumeris, a new species of paleotropical woody bamboo discovered in Southwest Yunnan, China. It is distinguished by its culm leaf sheath shoulders that prominently rise into a distinctive ca. 1 cm long falcate point. Phylogenetic analyses based on plastome and ITS sequences confirm its placement within the genus Gigantochloa.