Phyllostachys

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 100–740.7–3500 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes similar in length (1/1), or abbreviated and closely packed at the base (1/1); semiterete. Culm-nodes flush with internodes (1/13), or swollen (11/13), or flanged (1/13); without obvious supra-nodal ridge (2/11), or with distinct supra-nodal ridge (9/11). Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement two (37/38), or three (1/38); in a horizontal line (1/1); with 1 branch dominant (35/35); thinner than stem (1/1). Culm-sheaths deciduous (13/13); without auricles (34/50), or auriculate (21/50). Culm-sheath blade linear (33/51), or lanceolate (7/51), or triangular (23/51). Leaf-sheath auricles absent (41), or erect (1), or falcate (19). Ligule an eciliate membrane (12), or a ciliolate membrane (43), or a ciliate membrane (2). Leaf-blade base without a false petiole (2), or with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath (53). Leaf-blades linear (4), or lanceolate (53), or oblong (2). Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous (1/1). Leaf-blade venation without cross veins (45), or with obscure cross veins (1), or with distinct cross veins (9).

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous (18/18); fasciculate (16/18), or clustered at the nodes (2/18); with spathaceous subtending bracts (18/18); without axillary buds at base of spikelet (15/15); leafless between branches (1/1).

Fertile spikelets sessile (18/18).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets (1/1); 1 fertile florets (5/18), or 2 fertile florets (13/18), or 3 fertile florets (10/18), or 4 fertile florets (8/18), or 5 fertile florets (3/18), or 6 fertile florets (1/18); without rhachilla extension (2/18), or with a barren rhachilla extension (14/18), or with diminished florets at the apex (2/18). Spikelets lanceolate (18/18); laterally compressed (18/18); 8–22.55–36 mm long; breaking up at maturity (18/18); disarticulating below each fertile floret (18/18). Rhachilla internodes definite (17/17); glabrous (16/17), or sparsely hairy (1/17), or pubescent (2/17).

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure (1/18), or one the lower absent or obscure (12/18), or two (8/18); persistent (18/18); shorter than spikelet (18/18). Lower glume lanceolate (5/5); membranous (1/1); 1-keeled (1/1); 1–3 -veined (1/1). Lower glume lateral veins absent (1/8), or distinct (8/8). Lower glume surface without pits (8/8). Lower glume apex acuminate (1/1). Upper glume linear (1/18), or lanceolate (5/18), or oblong (12/18); 0.6–0.65–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous (1/18), or chartaceous (17/18); without keels (8/15), or 1-keeled (6/15), or 2-keeled (1/15); 5–6 -veined (1/2), or 7 -veined (2/2), or 8–9 -veined (1/2). Upper glume primary vein eciliate (15/18), or ciliolate (3/18). Upper glume surface glabrous (15/18), or puberulous (3/18). Upper glume apex acute (16/18), or acuminate (1/18), or setaceously attenuate (1/18).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren (1/1); with palea (1/1). Fertile lemma lanceolate (5/18), or elliptic (6/18), or ovate (7/18); chartaceous (18/18); without keel (15/16), or keeled (1/16); wingless (18/18); 7–8 -veined (1/7), or 9 -veined (3/7), or 10 -veined (2/7), or 11 -veined (4/7), or 12–13 -veined (2/7), or 15–17 -veined (1/7). Lemma lateral veins prominent (1/1). Lemma surface unwrinkled (18/18); without grooves (18/18); glabrous (11/18), or puberulous (1/18), or pubescent (4/18), or pilose (1/18), or hispidulous (1/18). Lemma margins eciliate (17/18), or ciliate (1/18). Lemma apex acute (3/18), or acuminate (14/18), or setaceously attenuate (1/18); muticous (15/18), or awned (3/18); 1 -awned (3/3). Palea 0.5–0.9438–1 length of lemma; chartaceous (18/18); 6 -veined (1/2), or 12 -veined (1/2). Palea keels separated (17/18), or approximate (1/18); eciliate (14/18), or ciliolate (3/18), or ciliate (1/18). Palea surface glabrous (13/18), or puberulous (1/18), or pubescent (3/18), or pilose (1/18). Palea apex dentate (4/4); muticous (16/18), or with excurrent keel veins (2/18). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped (1/2), or distinct from fertile (1/2); rudimentary (1/1).

FLOWER Lodicules 3 (18/18); glabrous (11/18), or ciliate (7/18); obtuse (1/2), or acute (1/2). Anthers 3 (18/18). Stigmas 2 (1/17), or 3 (16/17). Ovary unappendaged (12/18), or umbonate (6/18); glabrous (1/1).

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp (15/15).

DISTRIBUTION Africa (1), or Temperate Asia, or Tropical Asia (5), or Australasia (3), or Pacific (2), or North America (1), or South America (1).

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.