54 CHAPTER IV 



9. The term Crystalina has been given to the Salangore cane. 



10. The Tibboo Soerat Mauritius of Soltwedel is an entirely different 

 cane. {Soerat is a Malay term meaning " ribbon," and Tibboo, Tebu or 

 Tabor, merely means " cane.") 



The nomenclature of this very important cane has been more confused 

 than that of any other. This is due to its introductions and re-introductions, 

 to its profound sporting habits, and to its appearance varying with conditions 

 of growth. A number of coloured drawings of canes accepted by the writer 

 as illustrative of the variation in this variety are preserved in the Kew 

 Herbarium. They were made under the direction of Sir Daniel Morris. The 

 names attached to this variety are : — 



Light-Coloured Variety. La Pice, Le Sassier, Panachee, Tibboo Mird, Light 

 Java (Louisiana); White Transparent, Caledonian Queen, Mont Blanc, Burke 

 (British West Indies) ; Rose Bamboo (Hawaii, Mauritius, Australia). Rappoe 

 (Australia) ; Diard Rose, (Mauritius) ; Crystalina, Cineza (Cuba and Mexico) ; 

 Japara (Java) ; White Cheribon, Mexican Bamboo, Naga B. Blue, Hope, Green ; 

 Mamuri, Yellow Singapore ; Yellow Violet, Criolla blanca and Caiia Ind ia de 

 Jujuy (Argentina). 



Dark-Coloured Variety. Purple Transparent (British West Indies) ; Louisiana 

 Purple, Home Purple (Louisiana) ; Belouguet, Diard, (Mauritius) ; Black Cheribon, 

 Tibboo Etam, Gonsalves (Java) ; Queensland Creole (Australia) ; Cana Morada 

 (Latin America) ; Black Java, Purple Violet, Tabor Numa, Purple Mauritius, 

 Purple Bamboo, Moore's Purple, Dark Coloured Bamboo, Meera. 



Striped Variety. Red Ribbon (British West Indies) ; Home Ribbon (Louisi- 

 ana) ; Striped Mexican, Striped Louisiana (Hawaii) ; Striped Cheribon, Striped 

 Preanger (Java) ; Diard Ray6e Guinguam (Mauritius) ; San Salvador, Seete, 

 Striped Bamboo, Mauritius Bamboo, Transparent ; Criolla rayada (Argentina). 



CowgilF^ has given the following technical description of the striped 

 (Rayada) and the light-coloured (Crystalina) varieties. 



Rayada. — Habit, erect to recumbent. Length, medium. Diameter, variable 

 but averaging about medium. Shape of stalk, more or less curved. Colour, 

 longitudinally striped with reddish-purple and light green, the stripes varying 

 in width with different stalks and different internodes ; more or less glaucous. 

 Intemodes, medium to short, slightly flattened, typically plump, and more or less 

 tumid on the side opposite the one on which the bud occurs, sometimes straight- 

 sided, often staggered ; furrow, medium to shallow but usually broad. Nodes, 

 medium size ; the portion above the leaf-scar often a little smaller in circumference 

 than the internode and usually a slightly projecting ring at the dividing line of the 

 node and the internode above ; the depressed ring forming the portion below 

 typically deep, especially below the bud ; the leaf-scar projecting from beneath 

 the bud ; rudimentary roots in about three rows. Buds, varying in size and in 

 relative length and width, typically broadly ovate-accuminate to broadly ovate in 

 outline, sometimes obtuse-angular ; usually plump ; point, rounded to medium 

 acute ; margin, medium to wide, typically with medium to large lobes on the 

 sides, often bearded at the point. Foliage abundant, the dry leaves also retained 

 far down on the stalk, medium green in colour. Leaf, medium width, medium 

 length, tapering into a long point. Leaf sheath flattened laterally ; auricles, 

 medium to small, sometimes pointed on one side of the stalk; ligule, medium 

 length, with the upper edge rounded in outline. Vestiture of leaf sheath, a few 

 short setae in a line on the back. Vestiture of throat of sheath, medium coarse 

 hairs on, or adjacent to the auricles and on the edges of the base of the leaf, also 

 sometimes pubescent on the surface of the base of the leaf. Most important 

 distinguishing characteristics, colour and the shape of the buds. 



This is the striped cane which is widel}' cultivated on this island. It is appa- 

 rently closely related to the Crystalina variety. 



Crystalina. — Habit, erect to recumbent. Diameter, medium. Shape of 

 stalk, usually curved. Colour, varying from shades of greenish-red to straw colour, 

 sometimes tinted with violet or purple ; very glaucous. Internodes, varying in 

 length, but averaging about medium ; varying also in shape, often tumid on the 

 side opposite the one on which the bud occurs, typically plump, and flattened 

 laterally ; furrow, medium depth. Nodes, medium size, typically larger in the 



