CXII. G-RAMmE.E 663 



probably between 8 and 12 years. Offsets from mature clumps produce full-sized 

 culms m 2 or 8 years. 



The mature culms of Bamboos as a rule are hollow, with transverse dissepiments 

 at the nodes. The tissue of the culm is very firm, consisting of closed fibro-vascular 

 bundles and, chiefly near the surface, large masses of sclerenchymatous cells and 

 fibres. The branches of the rhizome are solid. As mentioned above, the young shoots 

 of Bamboos are solid, consisting of exceedingly soft tissue. They grow with extreme 

 rapidity up to their full height m the first part of the rainy season. During this 

 period the young culm would not be able to stand without the support of the culm- 

 sheaths which at first entirely enclose it. At a later period the tissue of the culm 

 hardens, the mternodes become hollow, and branches with leaves are formed in the 

 upper part, Thp ashes of Bamboos are rich in silica. In culms a few years old some 

 internodes are full of a watery fluid, which doubtless contains Potassium silicate in 

 solution. This probably is the origin of the Silica (Tabasheer), which is often found 

 in the internodes of old Bamboo culms (Brandis on Tabasheer, Ind. For. xiii. 107. 

 Also Sir Wm. Thisel ton-Dyer's note on Tabasheer, p. 185 of_the same volume). It has 

 been found m Dendroccdamus strictus, JBamhusa arundinacea and Oxytenantliera 

 nigrociliata, and is doubtless found in many other species. 



I. Culms as a rule not over 20 ft. Stamens usually 3, pericarp thin, membranous, 



adnate to seed. 



A. Branches terete, transverse veins conspicuous in 



most species, dividing the leaf into rectangles or 

 squares. Spikelets often pedicelled, 1- to many- 

 fid , empty glumes 1-2 1. Arundinaria. 



B. Branches flattened on the inside, transverse veins 



always conspicuous, close together, usually 

 dividing the leaf into minute squares. Spike- 

 lets sessile, supported by prominent sheathing 

 bracts, often with a leafy blade. PL 1-4, empty 

 glumes 2-3 2. Phyllostachys. 



II. Culms tall, as a rule erect. Stamens 6, pericarp thin, membranous, adnate to 



seed. 



A. Filaments free. 



{a) Palese entire or slightly 2-dentatej all pro- 

 minently 2-keeled 3. Bambusa. 



(h) Palese deeply 2-dentate, the teeth awned, 

 the uppermost nearly entire, indistinctly 

 keeled 4. Thyrsostachys. 



B. Filaments connate. 



{a) Spikelets many-fld., palese all prominently 



keeled 5- G-igantochloa. 



(h) Spikelets few-fid., palese of upper fl. indis- 

 tinctly or not at all keeled . . .6. Oxytenanthera. 



III. Culms tall, sometimes climbing. Stamens 6, in OcUandra numerous. 



A. Fruit small, pericarp crustaceous, endosperm large. 



(a) Single-stemmed, culms overhanging, trans- 

 verse veins conspicuous . . . .7. Pseudostaghyuk. 



(6) Tufted, transverse veins as a rule not 

 conspicaous. 

 a. Lodicules none, spikelets 2-6-fld., in 



large globose heads . - . .8. Dendrocalamus. 



/?. Lodicules 3, conspicuous. 



(1) Spikelets in long, narrow spikes. 



* Spikelets 2-5-flowered . 9. TEiNOsxACHYtisf. 



** Spikelets 1-flowered . . Schizostachydm (p. 679). 



(2) Spikelets crowded, in globose or 



obconical heads . . .10. Cephalostachyum. 



B. Fruit large, pericarp fleshy or ultimately coriaceous, no endosperm in the ripe 



seed. 



(a) Stamens 6, sometimes 4 or 5. 



a. Lodicules none. Climbing, culms 

 zi^zij^g, geniculate. Spikelets 1-fld., 

 minute . . . . . .11. Dinochloa. 



