Yushania maling

Yushania Keng. fil. (1957), in the family Gramineae subfamily Bambusoideae, contains around 4 species mostly in China.
Description Plant basically clump-forming, but sometimes far-running and colonising large areas with new clumps. Stems to 10m, graceful and arching when fully grown. Sheaths usually soon falling, sometimes with auricles and bristles. Branches 3 or 5 at each node, developing low down on mature stems. Leaves rather small, usually around 8–15cm long, less than 2cm wide. Spikelets with 2 or 3 glumes and several flowers, each with a palea and lemma (for full explanation of parts see Chusquea). Stamens 3 or 6. Ovary superior, with 1 cell and 3 stigmas. Pollination is by wind. The fruits are slender, with 1 seed.
Key Recognition Features Rampant growers with hanging branches.
Evolution and Relationships Yushania is close to Sinarundinaria Nakai, and is sometimes included in it, but it is often far-spreading.
Ecology and Geography In forests in China, from Taiwan to the northwestern Himalayas.
Comment Yushania anceps (Mitford) Yi, syn. Arundinaria jaunsarensis Gamble, is often cultivated and can become a nuisance. It was introduced from seed in the 1860s, and flowered again around 1910. The most recent flowering was in the 1960s, and seedlings from that are shown here. The form ‘Pitt White’ is taller than the usual form, reaching 10m.