Stephen M.Young - Observations on the Morphological Variations and Distribution of Bambusa guadua Humb.et Bonpl. in Ecuador - Introduction

Sep 29, 2026

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A year-long field study in Ecuador documents morphological variations and distribution patterns of Bambusa guadua. The work was carried out under the direction of Dr. Thomas R. Soderstrom and funded by the Eppley Foundation for Research, with local sponsorship by Dr. Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen. The paper situates the species within Ecuador’s major geographic regions, reviews prior botanical naming history, and identifies four morphological variations alongside three corresponding distribution areas, supported by observational descriptions and reference to a map.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages24

Reading Time1 h 0 min

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Introduction

Background

Variations and Distributions

THE JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN BAMBO0SOCIETY AUG.1981 ISSN0197-3789 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Richard HaubrichWilliam TeaguePresidentVice-President Dorothy RobertsKenneth BrenneckeSecretary-TreasurerEditor William GuntherAnn Heck Gilbert A.Voss CONTENTS Stephen M.Young:Observations on the Morphological Variations andDistribution of Bambusa guadua Humb.et Bonpl.in Ecuador.... Richard Haubrich:A Selected,Annotated Bibliography on Bambo……… 41 51 Aug.1981 # Stephen M.Young*:Observations on the Morphological Variationsand Distribution of Bambusa guadua Humb.et Bonpl.in Ecuador ## Introduction Recently I had the opportunity to study and collect many of the bamboos ofEcuador.The project,geared toward a general survey of the bamboos,was carriedout under the direction of Dr.Thomas R.Soderstrom of the Smithsonian Institutionand sponsored in Ecuador by Dr.Lauritz B.Holm-Nielsen of the Catholic Universityin Quito.The funding was provided by the Eppley Foundation for Research.Duringthe course of the year-long study I began to realize,as had other collectors beforeme,that there exist general distribution patterns and morphological or growth varia-tions of the most common tropical species there,Bambusa guadua. Regions Ecuador is the fourth smallest republic in South America.It lies betweenColombia and Peru on the west coast and consists of three main geographic areas. Two parallel cordilleras of the Andes mountains run down the center of thecountry.This high mountainous region is composed of dry basins interspersed withthe cones of more than thirty volcanos.To the west lies the coastal region,com-posed of both wet and dry lowlands and low hills.To the east of the mountains isthe Oriente,the forested eastern slopes of the Andes that gradually descend to theAmazon basin below. ## Background On both sides of the mountains Bambusa guadua grows in abundance.A des-tinctive bamboo,it was first described by Humboldt and Bonpland after their travelsthrough South America in the beginning of the 19th century.The species was subse-quently described by Kunth who gave it the name Guadua angustifolia.Today,afterfurther revisions,it is known once more as Bambusa guadua Humb.et Bonpl. Dr.F.A.McClure made a serious study of guadua,as it is commonly known,during his collecting in Ecuador in 1945.A description of the plant can be found inhis monumental book,"The Bamboos,"along with a discussion of the three morpho-logical variations that he discovered during his research there. The first of his variations is the Milagro strain which was said to have floweredannually.Unfortunately there is very little additional information pertaining to otherphysical characteristics of this variation. The second one involved a strain called "cana mansa"(meaning tame or gen-tle)This differed from the typical form,or "cana brava"(meaning fierce or aggressive),by weaker development of branches and spines and a difference in leafshape. The third strain consisted of a clump he observed outside of the town ofVinces in the province of Guayas.It was characterized by the absence of long thornybranches around the base of the culm. After extensive observation,collection and study of the collections of Dr.McClure and others I have defined four different guadua morphological variationsand three corresponding areas of distribution.(see map) ## Variations and Distributions The first variation is similar to the one that Dr.McClure describes in Vincesbut normally occurs in northwestern Ecuador in the provinces of Esmeraldas andCarchi.The culms are without buds on the central one third of the stem.The budson the lower one third are dormant unless the culm is injured or cut after which theybegin to grow into long spiny branches.(figs.1 and 2)The foliage branches on theupper one third of the culm have few or no spines. It is a growth form that is simple to recognize,easy to collect and abundant inthe areas where it occurs. Along the Ca

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the study on Bambusa guadua in Ecuador?

The study aims to survey Bambusa guadua in Ecuador by documenting general distribution patterns and morphological or growth variations of this common tropical species.

How does the paper describe Ecuador’s geography in relation to bamboo distribution?

It explains three main geographic areas—high mountainous regions with dry basins and volcanos, the coastal region with wet and dry lowlands, and the Oriente forested slopes descending toward the Amazon basin—providing context for where the species grows.

What morphological variations and distribution areas does the author conclude?

After extensive observation and study of collections, the author defines four distinct guadua morphological variations and three corresponding areas of distribution, illustrated by reference to a map.

Sep 29, 2026

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