HOW TO COLLECT BAMBOOS FOR HERBARIUM SPECIMEN

I Putu Gede Parlida Damayanto

McClure (1945) made suggestion on how to collect bamboos for herbarium material,
mentions (1) it is important to collect all bamboos whether they be in flower or not; (2)
never mix material from two distinct plants under the same number on the assumption that
they represent the same bamboo; (3) make specimens for permanent preservation; and (4)
make the specimen of each bamboo as complete as possible. This last suggestion can
facilitate the process of identification. Therefore, its important to know the parts of
bamboo to be collected. Here we present how to collect bamboo to make a complete
herbarium.
INFLORESCENCE. If present, collect as long as possible of the rachis of inflorescence.
Collect fragile spikelets (inset fig.) in separate envelope or save in the alcohol. If possible
collect the fruits.
LEAVES. Collect young and old leaves, big and small, healthy and diseased (if any).
Collect the leaves with apex intact. Be careful with bristles on the leaves sheath auricle and
ligule (if any). Some bristles are fragile (inset fig.).
CULM SHEATHS. Collect culm sheath on mature culm with good and complete condition
that means with balde (a) and auricles (b) intact. Take as high as an adult's chest. At least
two pieces to show the display up and down culm sheath on the herbarium. If its too large,
fold it, roll it up or cut it and keep all parts. I suggest to fold it so its not split. Be careful,
some blade fall easily and some auricles and ligule have a fragile bristles (c). Handle the
culm sheath hair gently, it may fall easily (d). Persistent sheath (e) may be left attached to a
section of culm. Collect the sheath by cutting the culm with persistent sheath.
BRANCH BUD.
Collect branch bud on the culm. Cut culm 5 cm on upper and lower node that contain
branch bud. Culm may be split up so it has to be thin.

BRANCH COMPLEMENT. Collect the type of branch complement on the mature culm.
Cut culm 5 cm on upper and lower node that contain branch complement. Culm may be
split up so that to be thin. Cut every branch at least 5 cm from their base.
SHOOT & YOUNG CULM. If possible, collect a shoot at least 30 cm from apex. Shoot
usually appear at rain season. If its not available, collect a young culm at least 30 cm
which contain two nodes (inset fig.). I suggest collect both of them (if any).
NOTES. Make some notes such as clump and culm habit; shoot and culm colour; culm
length; culm diameter and internode length (measured as high as an adult's chest); culm
sheath blade position when young and mature; hairs; wax; anthers colour; location (place
and/or GPS coordinate); altitude; habitat; local names; uses; date collected; collector
name(s) and number; and other note if possible.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. I would like to thank to Prof. Dr. Elizabeth Anita Widjaja for
willingly reviewing this poster.