Phyllostachys sulphurea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 700–800 cm long; 30–40 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes semiterete; hollow; yellow, or mid-green; smooth; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes without obvious supra-nodal ridge; glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Culm-sheaths yellow and brown; distinctly mottled with last colour; glabrous; without auricles; glabrous on shoulders. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5–20 cm long; 10–22 mm wide; mid-green, or mid-green and yellowish green; variegated (striped). Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence bractiferous; clustered at the nodes; with spathaceous subtending bracts; bracts 25–30 mm long; with ultimate bract subtending a compact bracteolate fascicle of spikelets; prophyllate below lateral spikelets; 25 cm long overall.

Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 18–25 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 apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 15 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea chartaceous.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus and China.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Chao & Renv. 2002.

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