清甜箭竹 qing tian jian zhu

Rhizome neck 8–10 cm, 1.8–2.5 cm in diam. Culms erect, 3–4 m, 1–1.8 cm in diam.; internodes terete but grooved above branches, 20–25(–30) cm, initially thinly white powdery below nodes; glabrous; wall 2.5–4.5 mm thick; supra-nodal ridges level or slightly prominent; sheath scar prominent, glabrous or initially stiffly white hairy. Branches 8–10 per node; culm bud 1, narrowly ovoid, appressed, margins white ciliate. Culm sheaths gradually deciduous, purple, triangular-ovate, ca. 1/3 as long as internodes, leathery, white or yellowish setose, longitudinal ribs prominent; auricles absent; oral setae deciduous, erect or curved, yellow; ligule purple, truncate or convex, 1–2 mm; blade reflexed, triangular linear or linear-lanceolate, glabrous. Leaves 4 or 5 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles absent; oral setae few, yellow; ligule slightly green, convex, 1–1.5 mm, glabrous; blade lanceolate, 4.5–10.5 × 0.6–1.1 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 3- or 4-paired, transverse veins distinct, base cuneate, margins serrulate. Inflorescence unknown. New shoots Jul.

* About 3500 m. S Sichuan (Mianning).

The shoots are edible and are one of the favorite foods of the giant panda. The split culms are used for weaving.