Phyllostachys reticulata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 300–400 cm long; 12–18 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes semiterete; hollow; yellow; smooth. Culm-nodes with distinct supra-nodal ridge; glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Culm-sheaths deciduous; 15–25 cm long; 5–6 times as long as wide; chartaceous; truncate at apex; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath ligule dentate. Culm-sheath blade linear; reflexed. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths loose; keeled; striately veined; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; obtuse. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.2–0.5 cm long; petiole pubescent. Leaf-blades lanceolate, or oblong; 7.5–10 cm long; 12–18 mm wide; mid-green and glaucous; discolorous with last colour beneath. Leaf-blade midrib conspicuous. Leaf-blade venation with 10–12 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; fasciculate; dense; with spathaceous subtending bracts; without axillary buds at base of spikelet; with ultimate bract subtending a compact bracteolate fascicle of spikelets; prophyllate below lateral spikelets.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 25–30 mm long; 3–5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume oblong; 7–8 mm long; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 20 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 11–13 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface scaberulous. Palea apex with excurrent keel veins.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; veined; ciliate. Anthers 3; 10 mm long; anther tip with extended connective. Stigmas 3. Styles 25–30 mm long. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus, western Asia, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India and Indo-China. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Gamble 1995.

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