Metasasa W. T. Lin.

Shrubby to arborescent bamboos. Rhizomes leptomorph, with running underground stems. Culms diffuse, erect; internodes terete, weakly grooved basally above branches, cavity with spongy pith; nodes weakly prominent. Branch complement 3 at mid-culm nodes, 3–5 at distal nodes. Culm sheaths deciduous, sparsely setose; auricles small or absent, with or without oral setae; blade lanceolate or triangular. Leaves usually medium-sized; auricles small or absent; blade with many secondary veins, transverse veins distinct. Inflorescence ebracteate, semelauctant, a terminal raceme or racemose panicle. Spikelets robust, several to many flowered, long pedicellate. Glumes 2–4; lemma large, many veined, apex acuminate or shortly mucronate. Palea usually shorter than lemma, 2-keeled, veined between keels. Lodicules 3, membranous, usually transparent at margin. Stamens 6; filaments free; anthers yellow. Ovary appendage inconspicuous; style 1; stigmas 3, plumose. New shoots spring–early summer, fl. summer–autumn.

The generic name Acidosasa and its type, A. chinensis, were previously published by Chu and Chao (J. Nanjing Technol. Coll. Forest Prod. 1979(1–2): 142–143. 1979), but not validly so (see Li, Taxon 46: 105–107. 1997).

About 11 species: China, Vietnam; ten species (all endemic) in China.

(Authors: Zhu Zhengde (朱政德 Chu Cheng-de), Yang Guangyao (杨光耀); Chris Stapleton)