Economic Botany, 65(4), 2011, p. 430.
© 2011, by The New York Botanical Garden Press, Bronx, NY 10458-5126 U.S.A.
Bamboos at TBGRI [Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute]. Koshy, K. C. 2010. Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Palode, Thiruvananthapuram 695562 Kerala, India; http://www.tbgri.in/tbgri/Bambo/ bamboo.htm. 104 pp. (paperback). Rs 800.00; USD 30.00. ISBN 978-81-920098-0-3.
This is a combined catalog and guide to one of India’s largest collections of living bamboos. TBGI (Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute) is located in the very south of India in the foothills of the Western Ghats in the state of Kerala. The Bambusetum (a living bamboo collection) is now about 25-years-old and flourishing under the guidance of Dr. K.C. Koshy. Two groups of giant tropical monocotyledons— palms and bamboos—are economically important but do not lend themselves to traditional herbarium collections. They are massive and often are identified by features of habit that cannot be documented in a dried pressed specimen. For ethnobotanical study and for understanding their biology and reproduction, living collections are priceless. Moreover, many bamboos have long and irregular flowering cycles. It is difficult to compare vegetative samples with flowering samples of a plant that flowers only once after many years of growth. The 68 species in 15 genera originate mainly from South India and Himalayan areas but also include many Asian species. Species are referenced in an index to scientific names and synonyms. In addition, there are 12 hybrids that were produced at TBGRI by the author and still under selection.
The historical development of the collection, the personalities involved in its establishment, methods of propagation, and its management are documented. The collection was built upon both cuttings from older gardens and newer propagules from field collecting trips by TBGRI throughout the Western Ghats and the regions of northern India. A detailed two-page planting map is presented, although the extreme reduction in size limits usefulness for locating accessions and canopy trees within the 6.6 hectares (16 Acres). The bulk of the book (67 pages) and the most useful part is the listing of taxa with nomenclature, accession details, location of herbarium vouchers, and often descriptions of habit, flowers, and flowering notes. The book is well illustrated with some 131 color images: including habit, flowers and fruit. The color is well printed on glossy paper.
The book will be of greatest use to a visitor of the collection in Kerala. However, any person interested in bamboos will find this a valuable resource for what is available at this major Indian bambusetum. Illustrations of bamboo habits and reproductive details will interest the bamboo enthusiast. The attractive cover images make it plant catalog with coffee table appeal.
JACK B. FISHER
FAIRCHILD TROPICAL BOTANIC GARDEN,
CORAL GABLES, FL, USA
JACKBFISHER@COMCAST.NET
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