Phyllostachys nidularia

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 100–500 cm long; 3–13 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes semiterete; hollow. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement two; with 1 branch dominant. Culm-sheaths 12–17 cm long; 3 times as long as wide; glabrous; convex at apex; auriculate; with acute auricles; with 7–13 mm wide auricles; setose on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade triangular; 3–6 cm long. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath oral hairs setose; deciduous. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 6–11 cm long; 7–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; fasciculate; dense; with spathaceous subtending bracts; bracts 6–10 mm long; 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 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 3–4 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 7–9 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy above. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea chartaceous. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back and on flanks.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5 mm long. Anthers 3; 6 mm long. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. WDC 2002.

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