酸竹 suan zhu

Culms to 8 m, 3–5 cm in diam.; internodes initially densely setose, traces of setae persistent, obviously striate; nodes weakly prominent. Culm sheaths red-brown, sparsely spotted, fragile when dry, initially shortly setose, transverse veins distinct, margins ciliate, apex narrow; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule arched, short, ciliate or fimbriate; blade lanceolate, 1.5–4.5 cm, base about as wide as sheath apex. Leaves 2–5 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles and oral setae usually absent; blade oblong-lanceolate or lanceolate, (11–)16–22(–30) × (2–)2.5–3.5(–6.5) cm, glabrous, secondary veins 6–11-paired, base cuneate, margins serrulate, apex long acuminate. Flowering branchlets terminal, 10–26 cm; bracts triangular, minute, glabrous, apex long caudate. Spikelets 3–5, forming simple raceme or panicle, robust, (3–)5–6(–10) × 0.3–0.6 cm; pedicel 1.5–4 cm, glabrous; florets (3–)8 or 9(–18); rachilla 6–7 mm, glabrous. Glumes usually 4, apical 2 lemma-shaped; lemma ca. 2 cm, glossy, glabrous, 17–19-veined; palea narrow, glabrous; lodicules elliptic-lanceolate. Anthers yellow, ca. 5 mm. New shoots Apr–May, fl. Oct.

* Scattered in broad-leaved woodlands, open mountain areas; ca. 700 m. Guangdong (Hewei Shan).

The shoots are edible when salted, and the culms are used for papermaking and weaving.