Donax canniformis (G.Forst.) K.Schum., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 15: 440 (1892)

Synonyms
Actoplanes canniformis (G.Forst.) K.Schum.
Actoplanes grandis (Miq.) K.Schum.
Actoplanes ridleyi K.Schum.
Arundastrum benthamianum Kuntze
Arundastrum canniforme (G.Forst.) Kuntze
Arundastrum grande (Miq.) Kuntze
Clinogyne canniformis (G.Forst.) K.Schum.
Clinogyne grandis (Miq.) Benth. ex Baker
Donax arundastrum Lour.
Donax arundinastrum Lour.
Donax gracilis K.Schum. [Spelling variant]
Donax grandis (Miq.) Ridl.
Donax parviflora Ridl.
Ilythuria canniformis (G.Forst.) Raf.
Maranta arundinacea Blanco [Illegitimate]
Maranta grandis Miq.
Maranta tonchat Blume
Phrynium canniforme (G.Forst.) Korn.
Phrynium canniforme (G.Forst.) Schrank
Thalia canniformis G.Forst.

Description
Herbs 1.5--4(--5) m tall. Stems with basal, canelike internode 1--2.5 m. Leaf sheath to 15 cm; petiole 8--20 cm, thickened into a cylindric pulvinus; leaf blade broadly ovate to elliptic, 10--25 by 10--45 cm, abaxially villous along midvein, base rounded to obtuse, apex acuminate. Inflorescences often branched at base, to 20 cm, slender; bracts 9--11, green, obovate to lanceolate, 2.5--3.5 cm, deciduous after anthesis. Pedicel thickened in fruit. Sepals white, triangular-ovate, 3--3.5 mm, glabrous. Corolla tube 8--10 mm; lobes linear, 1--1.4 cm by 2--3 mm. Outer staminodes white, obovate, 1.2--1.4 cm by 5--6 mm; callose staminode yellowish, ca. 1.5 cm, apex usually emarginate; cucullate staminode light yellow at apex. Fertile stamen ca. 8 mm, with a narrowly triangular appendage. Ovary sericeous. Fruit white to pale cream, 1--1.5 cm in diam., dry, indehiscent. Seeds 1 or 2, brown, globose to complanate. [from Flora of China]

Ecology
Rather wet places in secondary forests and dry bamboo scrub.

Uses

Distribution
From India, southern China and Taiwan to Indochina and Indonesia.

Local names
China: Zhu ye jiao.