Japanese name: チシマザサ（千島笹） Scientific name:Sasa kurilensis var. kurilensis
[Overview]
A bamboo grass 1–3 m tall, growing in colonies on the floor of beech forests in the mountains and on wind-exposed ground in the upper montane zone.
The rhizomes creep for long distances.
The culms (stems) are bent at the base, 1–2 cm in diameter, hard and elastic, and branch densely 3–4 times in the upper part.
At the upper part of the culm, one branch emerges at each node, bearing several leaves at its tip.
The leaves are lanceolate-oblong, 18–22 cm long and 3–5 cm wide, thick, hairless on both surfaces, smooth and glossy on the upper surface, and slightly grayish white on the underside.
The midrib of the leaf is thick, and the lateral veins are also somewhat thick and conspicuous.
The bamboo sheaths are usually hairless.
The conical inflorescence bears spikelets, each consisting of 6–9 florets.
[Uses]
The bamboo shoots are edible and are said to taste the best of all bamboo shoots.
[Notes]
Because the lower part of the culm is bent, it is also called Nemagari-dake.
