少花箭竹 shao hua jian zhu

Arundinaria pauciflora Keng, J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 26: 397. 1936; Fargesia pallens Hsueh & C. M. Hui; Sinarundinaria pauciflora (Keng) P. C. Keng.

Rhizome neck 4–8 cm. Culms 2–4 m, 1–3 cm in diam.; internodes terete or slightly flattened, 35–40 cm, initially densely white powdery, glabrous; wall 2–3 mm thick; supra-nodal ridge level or weakly prominent; sheath scar prominent, initially densely yellow-brown setose. Branches 6–10 per node. Culm sheaths persistent or gradually deciduous, triangularly narrowly rounded, shorter than internode, leathery, glabrous or sparsely yellow-brown setose, margins brown ciliate, longitudinal ribs prominent; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule truncate or arcuate, 1–2.5 mm, slightly fissured; blade reflexed, linear-lanceolate, glabrous, margins serrulate. Leaves 2 or 3 per ultimate branch; sheath glabrous; auricles and oral setae absent; ligule arcuate or truncate, glabrous; blade narrowly lanceolate, 9–14 × 0.7–1.2 cm, secondary veins 2–4-paired, transverse veins obscure, abaxially pubescent, base cuneate, margin spinescent-serrulate. Inflorescence a raceme, enclosed by spathe; spikelets ca. 3, 2–3 cm, rachilla internodes 2.5–4 mm, pilose; florets 4 or 5, purple. Glumes 2, glabrous or sparsely pilose; lemma acuminate at apex; palea keels ciliolate; lodicules ciliate. Anthers ca. 5 mm. Stigmas 2 or 3. Caryopsis unknown. New shoots late May–Jul.

* 2000–3200 m. SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan.

The shoots are edible and are a source of food for the giant panda. The culms are used for weaving and papermaking.