Fargesia murielae (Gamble) T.P.Yi

An evergreen bamboo 8 to 13 ft high, forming a dense thicket of stems erect and leafless the first year, afterwards becoming heavily laden with foliage and arching gracefully outwards. Stems 1⁄4 to 2⁄5 in. in diameter, hollow, at first bright green, finally yellow. Stem-sheaths straw-coloured, 3 to 5 in. long, 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 in. wide, rounded at the top where is a reflexed, awl-shaped tongue 11⁄2 to 21⁄2 in. long, glabrous except for minute hairs on the margin when young. Leaves 21⁄2 to 41⁄2 in. long, 2⁄5 to 3⁄5 in. wide, rounded at the base, tapering to a long slender apex, rich green and glabrous except for minute appressed bristles on both margins; secondary veins three or four each side the midrib; stalk 1⁄8 to 1⁄6 in. long. Leaf-sheath bristly where it joins its stalk.

Native of W. Hupeh, China, on uplands up to 10,000 ft altitude; discovered and introduced by Wilson in 1907 (No. 1462). A small plant was obtained from the Arnold Arboretum for Kew in 1913. This was easily propagated by division and afterwards distributed. Since then it has become well established in British gardens and has proved quite hardy. It more nearly resembles F. nitida than any other of the bamboos previously in cultivation and is equally beautiful and graceful. F. nitida is very distinct in its purple-black stems, purple stem-sheaths and smaller leaves. The specific name was given in honour of Muriel, daughter of the late E. H. Wilson.

[From the Supplement (Vol. V)]

This species was described from sterile specimens collected by Wilson. On the basis of a flowering in Denmark in 1974, it has been concluded that it is identical to the species described earlier by Franchet under the name Fargesia spathacea. However, David McClintock tells us that it is by no means certain that the plants which flowered in Denmark were in fact F. murieliae, so it seems safer to retain the familiar name for the time being.