Merostachys is a Neotropical genus of bamboo in the grass family.Sprengel, Curt Polycarp Joachim. 1824. Systema Vegetabilium, editio decima sexta 1: 132, 249 in LatinTropicos, Merostachys Spreng. It is found in South America and Central America from Belize to Paraguay.Sendulsky, T. 1997. Twelve new species of Merostachys (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Bambuseae) from Brazil. Novon 7(3): 285–307Filgueiras, T. S. & A. P. Santos-Gonçalves. 2004. A checklist of the basal grasses and bamboos in Brazil (Poaceae). Journal of the American Bamboo Society 18(1): 7–18Londoño, X. & L. G. Clark. 1998. Eight new taxa and two new reports of Bambuseae (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Colombia. Novon 8(4): 408–428McClure, F. A. & L.B. Smith. 1967. Gramíneas -- Suplemento. Bambúseas. 1(GRAM–Supl.): 1–78. In P. R. Reitz (ed.) Flora Ilustrada Catarinense. Herbário "Barbosa Rodrigues", Itajaí, Brasil
Species 59 species are accepted.Judziewicz, E. J. 2000. Merostachys. In Catalogue of New World Grasses (Poaceae): I. Subfamilies Anomochlooideae, Bambusoideae, Ehrhartoideae, and Pharoideae. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 39: 71–75
Formerly includedKew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families see Athroostachys Rhipidocladum Merostachys capitata - Athroostachys capitata Merostachys racemiflora - Rhipidocladum racemiflorum
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