Description: Tall perennial shrubs or trees with a leptomorph rhizome system; culms woody with rather short, hollow internodes, flattened or grooved, the groove on alternating sides of the stem and above the axillary bud.
Leaves with sheath eventually deciduous; blade short-petioled, with a distinct pseudopetiole, articulated, fairly short, venation tessellated.
Inflorescence a terminal, leafy panicle, appearing usually only after an interval of many years (possibly >100).
Spikelets 1–4-flowered. Glumes usually unequal, many-nerved, glabrous. Lemma ovate to lanceolate, acuminate. Palea 2-keeled, often with 2 short points.
Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 30 species, warm-temp. regions of Asia. Australia: 2 species (naturalized), Qld & N.S.W.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Stems purplish black at maturity; leaves 9–15 mm wide | Phyllostachys nigra |
| Stems yellowish green at maturity; leaves 6–22 mm wide | Phyllostachys aurea |
|
