Taxonomic Identity, Ecological Niche and Distribution of Two Restricted Range Bamboo Species of Meghalaya - Phyllostachys mannii Gamble and Sinarundinaria griffithiana (Munro) C.S. Chao & Renvoize

The paper presents a comprehensive account on taxonomic identity, niche characteristics and distribution pattern of two important bamboo species of Meghalaya viz., Phyllostachys mannii Gamble and Sinarundinaria griffithiana (Munro) C.S. Chao & Renvoize. The altitudinal distribution of both the species, and stand micro-environmental variables and soil characteristics indicate similar niche of the species. Both the species follow three-phase growth sequence. Based on the culm height, diameter and sheath morphology, it was concluded that Phyllostachys mannii, Phyllostachys assamica and Phyllostachys bambusoides are synonyms instead of being independent species as has been argued by many earlier workers. The distribution map of Phyllostachys mannii and Sinarundinaria griffithiana in Meghalaya shows extremely restricted distribution. Phyllostachys mannii has a restricted distribution world-wide and is confined to Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland of India, Yunnan province of China, and Myanmar. Sinarundinaria griffithiana has also extremely restricted distribution in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and hills of West Bengal in India, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar, China and Vietnam. Hence, based on their global distribution pattern, both the species may be termed as Endemic to South-East Asia.