Fargesia scabrida T. P. Yi

This species is somewhat intermediate between Fargesia and Yushania in having a less condensed inflorescence, suggesting that Borinda may be the appropriate genus.

The shoots are sweet and are an important source of food for the giant panda.

Rhizome neck 4.5–26 cm, 6–16 mm in diam. Culms 1.8–3.5 m, 0.5–1 cm in diam.; internodes terete, 17–20 cm, initially slightly white powdery or not, glabrous; wall 2–4 mm thick; supra-nodal ridges level or weakly prominent; sheath scar greatly prominent, broad, thick, initially gray setulose. Branches 3–8 per node, erect or deflexed. Culm sheaths persistent, light red-brown, triangular to narrowly rounded, 1/3–1/2 as long as internodes, leathery, abaxially sparsely gray to gray-yellow setulose, longitudinal ribs prominent, margins densely gray-yellow setulose; auricles and oral setae absent or obscure; ligule arcuate, ca. 1 mm, margins densely gray ciliolate; blade erect, triangular or linear-triangular, margins usually sparsely setulose. Leaves 2 or 3 per ultimate branch; sheath margins gray-yellow ciliate; auricles and oral setae absent or obscure; ligule truncate, ca. 1 mm, ciliate; blade lanceolate, 12–18 × 1.1–1.8 cm, abaxially pubescent, secondary veins 4-paired, transverse veins obscure, base broadly cuneate, margins spinescent-serrulate. Inflorescence a panicle, initially terminal to a leafy shoot. Spikelets 6–12, 1.5–3 cm, rachilla internodes 1–2 mm; florets 5–7. Glumes 2, setulose, apex long mucronate; lemma lanceolate, setulose, apex long mucronate; palea keels serrulate; lodicule margins sparsely ciliolate. Anthers yellow. Ovary oblong, glabrous; styles 2 or 3; stigmas 3. Caryopsis unknown. New shoots late Apr–early May.

S Gansu, N Sichuan.

* 1500–2000 m.