634 
CXIII. GTtAMlNElE 
Teibe X. Bambussae. 
53. ARUNDINARIA. Used as a diminutive of the Latin arundo, 
a reed, on account of its appearance. — Asia, Africa, America. 
Shrub-like bamboos growing gregariously ; rootstock perennial; 
stems annual, numerous, tufted, erect, smooth, cylindric, less 
than 1 in. diam. ; joints prominent, bearing thin, papery, straw- 
coloured, very deciduous stem-sheaths with short ligule and rudi- 
mentary blade ; branches short;, clustered at the nodes. Leaves 
flat, narrowly lanceolate, constricted at the base. Flowers borne 
on the leafless branches of separate stems. Spikelets flattened, 
1- to many-flowered (the uppermost flower sometimes male or rudi- 
mentary), solitary or in short racemes in the axils of more or less 
sheathing bracts which are crowded along the clustered branches 
of a racemose or paniculate inflorescence. Rhachilla prolonged as 
a short, hairy point. Glumes stiff. Empty glumes 2, lanceolate, 
unequal, shorter than the lowest flowering glume. Flowering 
glumes ovate-lanceolate, concave, acute. Stamens 3. Ovary 
glabrous ; styles 2 or 3, distinct, feathery nearly to the base. 
Grain narrowly oblong, grooved, free within the persistent glumes. 
Leaves not net-veined. Stem-sheaths tapering upwards. 
Bracts less than 1 in 1. A. falcata. 
Leaves net-veined. Stem-sheaths oblong, tip rounded. 
Bracts 3 in . 2. A. spathiflora. 
1. Arundinaria falcata, Nees ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 381. Stems 
6-10 ft., -J— | in. diam. ; joints much swollen; stem-sheaths taper- 
ing upwards, blade ^-2 in., recurved, ligule up to \ in., toothed; 
branches slender, many- jointed. Leaves not net- veined, usually 
about 3-4 x-^-^ in., sometimes on young shoots up to 12x1 in., 
tapering into a long, fine, often twisted tip ; sheath glabrous. Ligule 
long. Bracts linear or lanceolate, less than 1 in. long. Spikelets 
T-§ in., usually 2-, sometimes 1 -flowered, crowded in numerous, 
simple or branched, spreading, curved racemes 4-10 in. long. 
Glumes minutely hairy at the tip. Ovary narrowly oblong, 
tapering upwards ; styles 2. Grain tipped with the persistent 
style-base. (Fig. 199.) 
Simla, 5000 ft. — W. Himalaya, 4000-7000 ft. 
Common in forest undergrowth, usually on northern slopes or in ravines. 
Flowers gregariously, but a few clumps may be found in flower almost any 
year. Native name Bingal. The stems are used for pipes, basket work, &c. 
2 Arundinaria spathiflora, Trin. ; FI. Br. Ind. vii. 382. 
Stems 12-20 ft., in. diam. ; stem-sheaths oblong, tip rounded, 
blade 2-4 x^- in., ligule very short ; branches chiefly from the 
upper joints, many-jointed. Leaves net-veined, 3-5 x in.; 
sheath 2-3 in., a few T purple bristles at the mouth. Ligule long, 
dark-coloured. Bracts 3 in. long, oblong, stem-clasping, usually 
