Phyllostachys edulis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 1000–3500 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes semiterete; hollow; 35–50 cm long; yellow, or light green; distally pubescent. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement two. Culm-sheaths deciduous; coriaceous; hispid; with red hairs; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade linear; reflexed; pubescent. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; deciduous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 8–10 cm long; 8–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 8 secondary veins; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; fasciculate; 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 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 25–27 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume oblong; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 20–25 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 10–11 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea chartaceous. Palea surface scabrous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; veined; ciliate. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3. Ovary umbonate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus, China, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: Indo-China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Lecomte 1996.

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