A synopsis of Schizostachyum is urgently needed for the identification, conservation and utilization of the species from Vietnam. Here, we present a synopsis of the genus, including new synonyms, and taxonomic transfers for the remaining species. | HỘI NGHỊ KHOA HỌC TOÀN QUỐC VỀ SINH THÁI VÀ TÀI NGUYÊN SINH VẬT LẦN THỨ 4 A SYNOPSIS OF SCHIZOSTACHYUM (GRAMINEAE: BAMBUSOIDEAE) FROM VIETNAM TRAN VAN TIEN, NGUYEN HOANG NGHIA Forest Science Institute of Vietnam NIANHE XIA South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences The genus Schizostachyum was established by Nees von Esenbeck (1829) with a single species S. blumei Nees from Java. Since then, several authors have studied the genus taxonomically and a great deal more has been documented, which allows specialists to made better interpretation of the different species recognized, are more than 50 species recognized today. They are distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia - from southern China, to Malesian and extending to the Pacific Islands, with the majority of the species found in Malaysia, and Indonesia (Xia 1993, 1996; Ohrnberger 1999; Xia and Stapleton 2006). All species of Schizostachyum have sympodially branching rhizomes; erect or straggling thin-walled culms; branches of the same size arising from the node; spiklets in groups at the distal nodes of a branch the base of which leafy or on wholly leafless branches; 1 to several bracts and no true glumes, at the base of the bract where they are joined onto the rachilla; lodicules are present of absent (Holttum 1958; Xia 1993; Xia and Stapleton 2006). In Vietnam, the genus Schizostachyum has been studies by several authors (Balansa 1890; Camus & Camus 1923; Pham 2000). The first known species is S. zollingeri Steud., was collected from Quang Yen, Tonkin and illustrated by Balansa (1890). Camus & Camus (1923) recorded another one, S. aciculare Gamble, from southern Vietnam. Pham (2000) published the second edition of Illustrated Flora of Vietnam. In this book, the species number was increased to 11, ., S. aciculare Gamble, S. blumei Nees, S. brachycladum (Kurz) Kurz, S. chilianthum Kurz, S. gracile Munro, S. hainanense Merr. ex McClure, S. leviculm McClure, S. zollingeri Steud., S. .
