CHAP. VI PHYLLOSTACHYS KUMASASA 163 
more than 1 inch or 14 inch long, sometimes less, though in 
this short space they have two or even three nodes. They are 
enveloped in sheaths longer than themselves and of very 
peculiar structure, resembling a purple stem flanked by two 
tissue-like membranes each ending in a pointed growth of 
the same texture on either side of a true leaf, which takes the 
place of the limbus. The leaves at first sight appear to be 
clustered in threes or fours, but close examination shows that 
each leaf is borne singly either upon a branchlet or a sheath. 
A large-sized leaf will be about 3 inches long by nearly 1 
inch in breadth, pointed at the top and broadly rounded at 
the base, ovate in shape, resembling the leaf-like branches or 
cladodes of Butcher’s Broom (Ruscus), whence Siebold named 
the plant “ BAMBUSA RUSCIFOLIA.” The petiole is rather long. 
The down on the lower surface of the leaf is plainly visible 
to the naked eye. The tessellation is very close and minute. 
Both edges are very sharply serrated with prominent teeth. 
The secondary nerves are six or seven on either side of the 
midrib. 
By giving the name Kumasaca to this Bamboo, Munro 
has given rise to some difficulty. Sasw (in composition after 
a vowel zasa) is a Japanese version of the two Chinese words 
hsiao chw (small Bamboo), and is the generic name given by 
the Japanese to the dwarf Bamboos. Kuma signifies an 
edge or border. The etymology of the word kumazasa 
(barbarously altered by Munro into /wmasaca) would seem 
to point to the ARUNDINARIA VEITCHII, on account of its 
leaves withering at the edge in winter, and so having a 
distinct edge or border. It is certainly often used in that 
sense by natives. As I have already pointed out, KUMASASA 
