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Through study of its morphology\u2014nodes, buds, and thorn scars in the laboratory, as they assigned it to the genus Chimonobambusa. Comparisons with living thorny bamboos such as Bambusa bambos and Chimonobambusa callosa helped reconstruct its defensive traits and ecological role.This is the first fossil evidence that thorniness in bamboo\u2014a defense against herbivores\u2014was already present in Asia during the Ice Age. Its preservation is particularly significant because it comes from a period of colder and drier global climates, when bamboo was wiped out in many other regions, including Europe. The fossil shows that while harsh Ice Age conditions restricted bamboo\u2019s global distribution, Northeast India provided a safe refuge where the plant could continue to thrive.<\/p>\n
The discovery published in the journal Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology is remarkable for capturing fragile details like thorn scars\u2014features that almost never fossilize. The finding also highlights the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot as a crucial refugium during the Ice Age. While colder and drier climates eliminated bamboo from places such as Europe, the warm and humid conditions of Northeast India allowed it to persist.This research by H Bhatia, P Kumari, NH Singh & G Srivastava adds a new dimension to our understanding of both bamboo evolution and regional climate history. It also emphasizes the role of this part of Asia in safeguarding biodiversity during times of global stress, making the discovery not only a botanical milestone but also an important contribution to palaeoclimatic and biogeographic studies.<\/p>\n
Link to publication: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.revpalbo.2025.105347<\/a><\/p>\n (Courtesy- PIB)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"