The Biology Department’s Dr. Jimmy Triplett recently uncovered a new native bamboo species previously unknown in the state of Alabama. This species, known as Tallapoosa Cane or Arundinaria alabamensis, has been identified as Alabama’s thirty-first endemic vascular plant and the fourth native bamboo species in the United States. Dr. Triplett’s research has been published in the international science journal, Phytotaxa.
Dr. Triplett is a botanist, taxonomist, and evolutionary biologist. His research delves into the evolution of grasses, including bamboo, and he examines the role of hybridization and polyploidy in plant diversification. He has contributed to the discovery of various other plant species worldwide, including in Sri Lanka, Ecuador, Japan, and China. In addition to teaching several biology courses at JSU, he serves as the curator of the JSU Herbarium, co-director of the JSU Greenhouse, and collaborator for the Alabama Plant Atlas.
JSU Arts, Humanities & Sciences Blog 
Leave a comment