These emerge from the shoulders of older rhizomes already supporting a culm. New shoots generally appear in late December, in January and February. Peak production occurs in late January. Culms emerge from the soil at their full mature diameter, shedding the cardboard-like sheaths as they elongate.
Culms are more or less cylindrical.
The surface of the culm is smooth, usually green, and is often covered to some extent by either fine hairs or a waxy bloom. Generally, culms are stout with relatively thick or even solid walls. Nodes are ring-like and support a distinct pattern of branches which is more or less consistent within a genus. Branching begins directly above each culm node and proceeds alternately on opposite sides of the culm. Branches in turn may support a number of smaller branchlets.