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Plants shrub-like, spreading and densely clumping; rhizomes leptomorph, with tillering culms. Culms pluricespitose, to 4 m tall and 2.5 cm in diam., nodding to pendulous; internodes prominently sulcate, smooth and not finely ridged, glabrous; nodes with moderately to prominently raised supra-nodal ridge. Branches solitary (--2), large, to culm diameter, developing early, without promontory, erect, basal internode usually to 2 mm and lacking buds or lateral branches axes, others progressively longer; buds at mid-culm ovate, with 2-keeled budscale, often fused at front in lower culm. Culm sheaths oblong, shorter than internode, deciduous; blade subulate, reflexed. Leaf sheaths deciduous; blades medium-sized, usually glossy and thickened, transverse veins prominent, margins without winter necrosis. Synflorescence semelauctant, bracteate, branching paniculate, branches erect, subtended by small sheaths often with blades. Spikelets with sparse basal buds, usually not developing. Stamens 6, filaments free. Stigmas 3. Name from Mt Hiba in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
The genus Hibanobambusa from Japan has only one species, H. tranquillans. Because it was discovered quite recently and is rare it has been suggested that it might be a recent intergeneric hybrid, combining characters of Sasa with bracteate inflorescences similar to those of Phyllostachys or Semiarundinaria. Therefore the name X Phyllosasa has been published for it. However, molecular evidence has only shown affinity to Sasa and not to Phyllostachys. Many bamboo genera may have arisen as hybrids anyway.
Cultivars with attractive striped foliage and culms are usually cultivated rather than the all-green form.
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