ARUNDINARIA SPATHIFLORA or THAMNO- 
CALAMUS SPATHIFLORUS 
THis beautiful species from the north-western Himalayas, 
Sikkim, Bootan, and Nepal, where it is found at an altitude 
of from 7000 to 10,000 feet, bids fair when established to 
prove one of the most ornamental Bamboos. I was at one 
time led to think that the true plant had not hitherto been 
introduced into this country; but at last, in August 1895, 
I found it flourishing in full grace and beauty in a Surrey 
garden, and was assured by the owner that it had not 
suffered in any degree during the great trials of the pre- 
ceding winter. I have since then obtained specimens from 
Messrs. Veitch of Exeter. The tallest culms which I have 
seen are only from 6 to 8 feet high, but in their own 
country they grow to a height of some 20 feet. They are 
a pale yellowish or pinkish brown in colour, slender, 
fistulous, very smooth, and much-branched at the nodes, 
which are fairly prominent and conspicuous for a very 
distinct white ring at the base of each. The internodes in 
the immature specimens which I have seen are about 4 to 5 
inches in length. The leaves are small, from 2 to 3 inches long 
by a quarter of an inch across, the petiole is well defined, 
the shape linear-lanceolate, ending in a fine point. The 
