Hill Cane, Iowa State University photo

We tend to think that we … know our own biodiversity, and that there isn’t much left to discover in a place like the United States. I think this demonstrates that that’s not true.Lynn Clark, professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology, Iowa State University

Surprise, surprise! Two known species of North American bamboo discovered 200 years ago have been joined by a brand new one just found in the last year. The “hill cane” was discovered in the Appalachian Mountains. This new species of bamboo (Arundinaria appalachiana) grows only to about 6 feet, compared with the other North American species – river cane and switch cane – which each can grow much taller and thicker. It is the only species of the three that drops its leaves. Locals knew about it but had not recognized it as anything so new or special.

River Cane, Duke University photo

Professor Clark, along with doctoral student Jimmy Triplett first heard about what might be a different type of bamboo from University of North Carolina botanist Alan Weakley. They decided to take a ride into the Appalachians to figure out if there was anything to the stories.

We drove up, we got out of the car, we looked at it and went, “Ah, it’s different. This one doesn’t have a name.”…It’s overall kind of a smaller plant … and more delicate….These are difficult plants to work with, so a lot of people…don’t pay much attention. When you do look at them, there is this incredible diversity.” “Lynn Clark

Dr. Clark is an international bamboo expert who has discovered 74 other new species, mostly throughout Central and South America.

According to the Associated Press, Clark, Triplett and Weakley recently completed the process of officially naming and describing the newfound bamboo species, including preparing Latin and English descriptions as well as drawings. Their work appeared last fall in the journal Sida, Contributions to Botany.