Phyllostachys flexuosa Rivière & C. Rivière, Poaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: qu gan zhu

English: drooping timber bamboo

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Habit: Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; leptomorph. Culms erect; 400 cm long; woody. Culm-internodes semiterete; thin-walled. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 5-20 cm long; 6-18 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate. Inflorescence: Synflorescence bractiferous; fasciculate; dense; with spathaceous subtending bracts; bracts 12-15 mm long; without axillary buds at base of spikelet; with ultimate bract subtending a compact bracteolate fascicle of spikelets; prophyllate below lateral spikelets. Fertile spikelets sessile. Fertile Spikelets Spikelets comprising 2-4 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Glumes: Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; persistent; shorter than spikelet. Upper glume linear; 10 mm long; chartaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acute. Florets: Fertile lemma elliptic; 15 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2 mm long overall. Palea 1 times length of lemma; chartaceous. Flower: Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3. Fruit: Caryopsis with adherent pericarp" (GrassBase).

Habitat/ecology:  "Woodland, Sunny Edge, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It requires moist soil" (Plants For A Future).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  China (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive	Gargominy, Oliver/Bouchet, Philipe/Pascal, Michel/Jaffre, Tanguy/Tourneu, Jean-Christophe (1996) (p. 381) Localement envahissante dans le Sud de la Grande-Terre.
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 61)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Phyllostachys flexuosa, please let us know.