Bambusa bicicatricata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; inclined at the tip; 1000 cm long; 55–75 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 20–36 cm long. Culm-nodes flush with internodes. Lateral branches dendroid; arising from lower culm. Branch complement several; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths deciduous; coriaceous; hispid; with dark brown hairs; auriculate. Culm-sheath ligule 4–5 mm high; dentate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate, or narrowly ovate; reflexed. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–2 mm long; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 9–22 cm long; 20–40 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; in untidy tufts; with glumaceous subtending bracts; with axillary buds at base of spikelet; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; leafless between clusters.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 17–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite; 2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes two, or several; 2–3 empty glumes; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate; auriculate at base; 5 mm long. Upper glume surface glabrous.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 7–8 mm long; without keel. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea 7–8 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous. Anthers 6; 3.5 mm long. Stigmas 1.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Fl China 2005.

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