Phyllostachys
(from phyllon, a leaf, and stachys, a spike; alluding to branchlets being furnished with leaves). ORD. Gramineae. A genus comprising four or five species of arborescent, Chinese and Japanese grasses, with semi-terete stems, prominent lobes, and sub-verticillate, fascicled, leaf-bearing branchlets. Spikelets few (one to four) flowered, shortly sub-spicate, inclosed by one or two spathaceous bracts; spikes dense or loose, in loose, often numerous panicles. Leaves shortly petiolate, articulated with the sheaths, flat, tessellately veined. Whangee Canes appear to be the produce of P. nigra, the stems of which, "although slender, are nearly solid, and appear to be generally used for such purposes as require great strength and toughness. Chairs, pipe-stems, and walking-sticks are often seen in England made from the culms of this species" (T. L. S. xxvi. 35). P. bambusoides (Bambusa-like). fl., fertile spikelets three to five-flowered, ten to twelve lines long; spikes 1in. to 2in. long; inflorescence very variable, usually with the aspect of a panicle, 2ft. long. l. oblong-lanceolate, rounded or attenuated at base, petiolate, very acute at apex, usually 3in. to 4in. long, and 1/3in. to 3/4in. broad. Culms reed-like, 10ft. to 12ft. high, unarmed, semi-terete, yellow, very smooth above, the nodes prominent, highly glabrous. Japan.
P. nigra (black).* l. linear-lanceolate, acuminate at apex, rounded or attenuated at base, shortly petiolate, usually 2in. to 3in. long, and four to six lines broad, one or both margins bristly ciliated, glabrous above, pale and almost pubescent beneath. Culm sometimes dwarf, 4ft. to 5ft. high, sometimes (in cultivation, e.g., a fine specimen in the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, which was, unfortunately, destroyed by fire there) 25ft. high. China and Japan. SYN. Bambusa nigra.