[1][2] New culms are dark green, paling with age, [1] with a white ring appearing under each node.

[2] Branches are short and leaves are small for a bamboo of the genus Phyllostachys.

[3] Like water bamboo, the rhizomes and roots of this species have air canals as an adaptation for living in wet soil.

[4] Its natural distribution in Asia is limited primarily to Zhejiang Province[1] of China, where it is cultivated.

This species is grown mainly for edible shoots, while the culms have general purpose uses.