Pleioblastus variegatus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms zigzag; 60–120 cm long; 2–6 mm diam.; woody. Culm-internodes terete; hollow; 10–30 cm long; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes swollen. Lateral branches dendroid. Branch complement one, or two. Culm-sheaths convex at apex; without auricles; ciliate on shoulders. Culm-sheath blade ovate, or triangular. Leaves 3–13 per branch. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; lanceolate; 3–14 cm long; 4–13 mm wide; dark green and yellowish green; variegated (yellow stripes). Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes two; persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; chartaceous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; chartaceous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 9–10 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acuminate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; apex unappendaged.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia. Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundinarieae. Lin. 2001.

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