Reproductive characteristics of three bamboo species

Most bamboo species seldom flower. We gathered the pseudospikelets of Dendrocalamus giganteus, Neosinocalamus affinis and Bambusa sinospinosa, to compare the differences in their structures and developmental processes. Selfpollination was observed in some florets of N. affinis. Five types of abortions were summarized in the three flowering bamboo species. D. giganteus was the typical male sterility due to the degeneration of all microspores in all anthers. The developmental characteristics of reproductive organs of the three bamboo species were the same. Besides, not all endothecium of both D. giganteus and B. sinospinosa became fibrous. There are more antipodal cells in mature embryo sac of D. giganteus than in that of B. sinospinosa. (author)