Bambusa grandis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; inclined at the tip; 1000–1500 cm long; 80–100 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 30–40 cm long. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement several; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths deciduous; convex at apex; auriculate. Culm-sheath ligule 3–5 mm high; dentate. Culm-sheath blade lanceolate; deciduous; reflexed. Leaves cauline; 6–8 per branch. Leaf-sheaths 8–12 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 15–20 cm long; 30–50 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

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 4–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes definite.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume ovate. Upper glume margins ciliate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 10–12 mm long; without keel. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acute. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface glabrous. Palea apex obtuse; ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 6; 6 mm long; anther tip apiculate. Stigmas 1. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Dai & Tao 2002.

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