Fargesia spathacea Franch.

Rhizome neck 7–13 cm, 7–20 mm in diam. Culms 1.5–4 m, 0.5–2 cm in diam.; internodes terete, 15–18 cm, initially with or without light white powder, glabrous; wall 1.5–2.5 mm thick; supra-nodal ridges level or weakly prominent; sheath scar prominent, initially white-gray setulose. Branches 9–17 per node, deflexed, slightly white powdery, solid or nearly so. Culm sheaths persistent or gradually deciduous, yellowish, narrowly rounded to triangular, longer, equal to, or shorter than internodes, leathery, brown setulose, longitudinal ribs prominent, margins initially brown ciliate; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule truncate, ca. 1 mm, margin densely gray ciliate; blade reflexed or erect, triangular or linear-lanceolate, adaxially proximally white-gray pilose. Leaves 2 or 3 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous or margin initially yellow-brown ciliate; auricles obscure, purple; oral setae present; ligule truncate or slightly arcuate, ca. 1 mm, glabrous; blade linear-lanceolate, 6–10 × 0.5–1.3 cm, glabrous, secondary veins 3–5-paired, transverse veins distinct, base cuneate, one margin spinescent-serrulate, other margin obscure. Inflorescence a raceme, subtended by 3 or 4 spathes; spikelets 8–14, 1.3–2.5 cm, rachilla internodes 1.5–3 mm, white-gray pilose, apically swollen; florets 2 or 3. Glumes 1 or 2, leathery; lemma setulose, apex long mucronate. Palea slightly setose, keels serrulate; lodicule ciliate on margins. Anthers yellow. Ovary oblong, glabrous; style 1; stigmas 2. Caryopsis light purple, ovoid, glabrous. New shoots May.

We have no specific information, but Fargesia species are generally found as an understorey in evergreen broadleaved to coniferous forest, depending on elevation. This species is found at elevations from 1,300-2,400 metres.

Can be grown by cuttings, divisions or seedlings.