High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Rhipidocladum is a genus of New World woody bamboo (subfamily Bambusoideae of the family Poaceae). It comprises 18 species, found in Central and South America. The genus is characterized by 1) erect, non-pseudopetiolate culm leaves, 2) numerous branchlets arising in an apsidate (fan-like) array, and 3) fruits being true caryopses. The name is derived from the Greek rhipid meaning "fanlike" and clad meaning "branch" .