From the Japanese – zasa, meaning small bamboo.
Small to medium sized bamboo with running rhizomes. Stems generally up to 2 m tall, hollow and cylindrical, the nodes conspicuous and each with a white, waxy bloom below. Basal sheaths persistent. Branches 1 per node where present and about as thick as the stem. Leaves 4-11 per branch, distinctly tessellated and waxy blue over most of the lower surface. Inflorescence a panicle. Spikelets with 2 glumes. Florets 4-10 per spikelet.
Grown for the highly attractive large leaves. Additional species, not described here, are available in the tropics including S. kurilensis (Rupr.) Mak. & Shib. and S. tsuboiana Mak.
In recent times some cultivated species have been transferred to Sasaella, Pleioblastus, Sasamorpha and other genera.
Division.
Stems spreading outwards and then bent up at the base; leaves 4-11 per branch, generally broad.
About 30 species from Japan, Korea and China.
Source: (2005). Poaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
