Schizostachyum hantu Dransfield (1983: 327)

Ritonga, Muhammad Azli, Maideliza, Tesri, Damayanto, Putu Gede P., Asmarayani, Rani & Nurjannah, Siti, 2025, New species and distribution record of Schizostachyum (Poaceae, Bambusoideae) from Indonesia, Phytotaxa 704 (2), pp. 165-177 : 172-174

Schizostachyum hantu Dransfield (1983: 327) ( Fig. 6 ).

Type:— MALAYSIA. Borneo: Sarawak, 1 st division, near Lundu, 8 May 1981, S Dransfield SD 803 (holotype K!, isotype BO!, KEP, L!, SAR, US).

Distribution:— Schizostachyum hantu was initially known endemic to Sarawak, Borneo ( Dransfield 1983; Dransfield & Widjaja 1995), particularly around Lundu, Mount Matang, and Mount Buri. Later, the species was also identified in Kpg. Siru Darat, Sematan, Sarawak, based on the specimen Runi & Yii P.C. S61178 (K). Recent surveys in Indonesian Borneo, specifically in East Kalimantan, along with observations of specimens in Herbarium Wanariset, confirmed the presence of this species in the forests of Samboja District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, and North Balikpapan District, Balikpapan City. This marks the first official record of S. hantu in Indonesia, expanding its known range beyond Malaysia. The global distribution of S. hantu is illustrated in Fig. 7 .

Habitat:—In Sarawak, S. hantu inhabits forests and forest edges, secondary forests, riverbanks, mountainous areas, and near villages at elevations of 20–700 m above sea level ( Dransfield 1983). Meanwhile, in East Kalimantan, this species has been found growing in forests, along forest edges, near lakes, and by roadsides ( Fig. 8 ) at elevations of 29–95 m above sea level.

Phenology:—This species flower in April, May, October, and December with new shoots emerging in May and October.

Uses and vernacular name:—The culms of S. hantu in Kalimantan are commonly used as stakes for planting peanut crops, fishing rods, and sticks to scare off orangutans. In Malaysia, they are used for making baskets ( Dransfield & Widjaja 1995) and are associated with superstitious beliefs to protect homes. The vernacular name for this species in Kalimantan is turus (East Kalimantan), while in Malaysia it is known as tumiang balu (Selakau) or buluh hantu (Iban) .

Provisional conservation status assessment:— Schizostachyum hantu is a bamboo species endemic to Borneo, specifically in Sarawak, Malaysia, and East Kalimantan, Indonesia. While its AOO is relatively small at 32 km ², classifying it as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN Red List criteria B, its EOO is much larger at 41,372 km ², placing it in the Near Threatened (NT) category according to IUCN Red List. This species typically grows along roadsides and forest edges, making it vulnerable to threats like habitat loss due to deforestation and road expansion. Additionally, its use by local communities could lead to overexploitation. However, the exact extent of these threats remains uncertain, especially in East Kalimantan, where significant populations exist within protected forest areas. Given the abundance of this species in East Kalimantan and its presence in protected areas, the IUCN has provisionally categorized S. hantu as Least Concern (LC).

Notes:—In its protologue ( Dransfield 1983), the type specimen of S. hantu (S Dransfield SD803) is recorded as having been collected on 2 May 1981. However, the labels on the specimens of S Dransfield SD 803 in BO, K, and L indicate the collection date as 8 May 1981. On the other hand, there was an error in the transcription of the collectors’ names on specimen Widyaya & Rugaya et al. EAW4784 (WAN), which should have been Widjaja & Rugayah et al.

Specimens examined:— MALAYSIA. Sematan, Kpg. Siru Darat , 18 January 1991, Runi & Yii P C S61178 ( K: barcodes K003902032 , K003902032 ) ; Sarawak, 1 st Division, Kuching, G. Matang , 700 m a.s.l., 8 April 1981, S Dransfield SD789 ( K: barcodes K003902033 , K003902034 ; L: barcodes L.1328608, L.1328609) ; Sarawak, 1 st Division, near Lundu , 8 May 1981, S Dransfield SD803 ( BO; K: barcodes K000290711 , K000290712 , K000795417 ; L: barcodes L.0050072, L.0050073) ; Sarawak, 1 st Division, Gn. Buri, 700 m a.s.l., 22 May 1981, S Dransfield SD817 ( L: barcodes L.0580160, L.1328610) . INDONESIA. East Kalimantan, Kota Bangun, Sungei Peddang , 50 m a.s.l., 10 December 1992, Widyaya [ E A Widjaja] & Rugaya [Rugayah] et al. EAW4784 ( WAN) ; Kalimantan Timur Province, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, Samboja District, Forest Area with Special Purpose or KHDTK ( Kawasan Hutan dengan Tujuan Khusus ), km 1.5, 0°59’36.0”S 116°57’51.0”E, 70 m a.s.l., 15 October 2024, I P G P Damayanto, R Asmarayani, S Nurjannah, M T Rengku, & Muryani IPGPD1893 ( BO) ; Kalimantan Timur Province, Kutai Kartanegara Regency, Samboja District, Forest Area with Special Purpose or KHDTK ( Kawasan Hutan dengan Tujuan Khusus ), km 4.5, Track Wartono Kardi , 0°59’25.0”S 116°56’48.4”E, 95 m a.s.l., 15 October 2024, I P G P Damayanto, R Asmarayani, S Nurjannah, M T Rengku, & Muryani IPGPD1896 ( BO) ; Kalimantan Timur Province, Kota Madya Balikpapan, Balikpapan Utara District, Kelurahan Karang Joang , Sungai Wain Village , Kelompok Tani Hutan ( KHT) Hutan Lestari UPTD Balikpapan , camp ground, 1°08’25.6”S 116°50’27.1”E, 35 m a.s.l., 18 October 2024, I P G P Damayanto, R Asmarayani, S Nurjannah, A Sugianto, & R I Saputra IPGPD1904 ( BO) ; Kalimantan Timur Province, Kota Madya Balikpapan, Balikpapan Utara District, Kelurahan Karang Joang , Sungai Wain Village , Kelompok Tani Hutan ( KHT) Hutan Lestari UPTD Balikpapan , near Lake Pertamina , 1°08’31.2”S 116°50’14.4”E, 29 m a.s.l., 18 October 2024, I P G P Damayanto, R Asmarayani, S Nurjannah, A Sugianto, & R I Saputra IPGPD1906 ( BO) .

Figures

FIGURE 6. Schizostachyum hantu. A–B. habit, C. shoot, D. culms, E. culm sheath, F. culm sheath showing ligule and inner part of blade, G. culm sheath auricle when young, H. culm sheath auricle when old, I. leaves, J. detail of leaf sheath auricles, K. inflorescence (Photographed by I Putu Gede P. Damayanto [A–D, I–K] and Rani Asmarayani [E–H]).

FIGURE 7. Distribution map of Schizostachyum hantu in Borneo.

FIGURE 8. Habitat of Schizostachyum hantu in Borneo (Photographed by I Putu Gede P. Damayanto).