Phyllostachys aurea* Rivière &
C.Rivière. Bull. Soc. Acclim. Ser. 3, 5: 716 (1878).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Bambusoideae. Tribe Bambuseae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: T: Anon. s.n., Africa: Tunis: Cultivated in
"Jardim du Hamma" (P).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (53), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (341), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (358).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (215), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst,
F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (52, fig.18; plate 1), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(341).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Basal leaf sheaths absent. Culms erect,
200–800 cm tall, 20–30 mm diam., woody. Mid-culm internodes hollow,
thin-walled, glabrous. Lateral branches dendroid. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths
glabrous on surface or hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliate membrane, 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate or oblong,
flat, 5–15 cm long, 5–22 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence unknown.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets, comprising 2 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension,
lanceolate, laterally compressed, 18–25 mm long.
Glumes. Upper
glume oblong, chartaceous, without keels.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 15 mm long, without keel. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Australasia, Pacific, North
America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales.
South Australia:
Southern Lofty. Queensland: Moreton. New South Wales: North
Coast, Central Coast.
Notes.
Naturalized in several areas on the central and north coasts, N.S.W. Native of
China.