灰竹 hui zhu

Culms 6–9 m, 2–4 cm in diam., sometimes with 1 or 2 geniculate nodes near base; internodes initially dark green, basal nodes blotched dark purple, becoming gray-green or gray-white in age, striate, to 30 cm, distally white powdery, glabrous; wall ca. 1/3 diam. of internodes; nodes initially dark purple, nodal ridge elevated, more prominent than sheath scar. Culm sheaths green-purple or faintly red-brown with purple veins, basal and mid-culm nodes distally blotched dark brown, white powdery, slightly scabrous between veins; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule yellow-green, truncate, ca. 4 mm, narrow, ciliate; blade reflexed, narrowly triangular to linear, initially weakly crinkled, later flat. Leaves 2–4 per ultimate branch; auricles and oral setae absent; blade lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 8–16 cm. Flowering branches spicate, 5–9 cm; bracts 3–5, gradually larger; spathes 5–7, lowest 1 or 2 sterile and deciduous, margins pubescent, auricles and oral setae absent; blade ovate-lanceolate to subulate, small. Pseudospikelets 2 or 3 per spathe. Spikelets lanceolate, 2.5–3.4 cm; florets 1 or 2. Glumes absent or 1; rachilla internodes densely puberulent; lemma 2.5–3 cm, margins glabrous or sparsely puberulent; palea 2–2.5 cm, usually glabrous; lodicules ca. 4 mm. Anthers ca. 1 cm. Stigmas 2 or 3. New shoots Apr–May, fl. May.

* Cultivated. Anhui, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Taiwan, Zhejiang.

This is a very hardy species with delicious shoots. The tough culms are used for handles of farm implements.