Bambusa variostriata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; pachymorph. Culms erect; pendulous at the tip; 500–1200 cm long; 40–70 mm diam.; woody; without nodal roots. Culm-internodes terete; with small lumen; 15–20 cm long; mid-green and purple; striped; distally pubescent. Culm-nodes flush with internodes. Lateral branches dendroid; arising from lower culm. Branch complement many. Culm-sheaths deciduous; coriaceous; hispid; with yellow hairs; auriculate; setose on shoulders; shoulders with 4–6 mm long hairs. Culm-sheath ligule 3–9 mm high; entire, or dentate. Culm-sheath blade triangular; erect; hispid. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Collar with external ligule. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 13–26 cm long; 16–30 mm wide.

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

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 30–50 mm long; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; shedding paleas. Rhachilla internodes definite; 2–3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; comprising 3–5 gemmiferous bracts. Upper glume lanceolate; 10 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 15 mm long; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea 15 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 4–5 mm long; membranous. Anthers 6; 7 mm long. Stigmas 3.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Bambuseae. Fl China 2005.

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