184 THE BAMBOO GARDEN CHAP. VI 
first, but this feature disappears as they wither; the tiny 
ligule is furnished with small hairs, and the limbus is, as 
might be expected, very small. The branches are borne 
singly ; the leaves are a bright green on both sides, tessellated, 
and serrated on both edges. They are very small, about 17 
inch to 21 inches long by three-eighths to a quarter of an inch 
wide. They have a very minute silvery down, quite impercep- 
tible to the naked eye, on both surfaces, especially towards the 
base. In shape they are lanceolated, ending in a very small 
petiole. Each side of the midrib has two to three secondary 
nerves. The distichous arrangement of the leaves is most 
characteristic and singular. 
Altogether BAMBUSA DISTICHA is a lovely and most 
attractive little plant. It was rather roughly handled by the 
last two winters, but never quite lost its leaves; with the 
renewal of summer it sprang into beauty again, and, as the 
roots are great wanderers, soon began to make a thick carpet 
of brilliant greenery, full of character and individuality. 
The origin of this Bamboo is doubtful. Mr Watson of Kew 
says, “it is most like Chusquea tessellata of New Granada 
(Munro) of any of the specimens in the Herbarium.” It may 
possibly be the same as the species which the Japanese call 
OROSHIMA CHIKU, but I am without any evidence as to its 
being indigenous in Japan. 
