United Press International
03-13-07
New species of North American bamboo found
POCATELLO, Idaho, March 13 (UPI) -- U.S. botanists have found a new species
of North American bamboo -- the third known native species of North American
bamboo discovered in 200 years.
The discovery was made by Iowa State University botany professor Lynn
Clark and graduate student Jimmy Triplett, along with Alan Weakley of the
University of North Carolina.
The researchers said the new bamboo species, called hill cane, differs from the
other two native North American bamboo species -- commonly known as switch
cane and river cane -- in an important way. It drops its leaves in the fall.
"All the other new ones came from Central and South America," Clark said. "It's
so exciting to find a new species in our own backyard!"
The new species has been officially named Arundinaria appalachiana.
There are 1,400 known species of bamboo. Of those, about 900 are tropical and
500 are temperate. The bamboos of North America are found in the Eastern and
Southeastern United States, from New Jersey south to Florida and west to
Texas.
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