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Bamboos are a diverse group of
evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...
perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...
flowering plants making up the
subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Bambusoideae of the grass family
Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns an ...
.
Giant bamboo Giant bamboo is a common name for several large species of bamboo and may refer to: * Large species in the genus ''Bambusa'' include: ** "Giant timber bamboo" (''Bambusa oldhamii''), a large (to 20 m) bamboo species originating from Taiwan ** ''Bamb ...
s are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, but it probably comes from the Dutch or Portuguese language, which originally borrowed it from
Malay Malay may refer to: Languages * Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore ** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century ** Indonesi ...
or
Kannada Kannada (; ಕನ್ನಡ, ), originally romanised Canarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in southwestern India, with minorities in all neighbouring states. It has around 47 million native s ...
. In bamboo, as in other grasses, the internodal regions of the
stem Stem or STEM may refer to: Plant structures * Plant stem, a plant's aboveground axis, made of vascular tissue, off which leaves and flowers hang * Stipe (botany), a stalk to support some other structure * Stipe (mycology), the stem of a mushro ...
are usually hollow and the
vascular bundle A vascular bundle is a part of the transport system in vascular plants. The transport itself happens in the stem, which exists in two forms: xylem and phloem. Both these tissues are present in a vascular bundle, which in addition will inclu ...
s in the cross-section are scattered throughout the stem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement. The
dicotyledon The dicotyledons, also known as dicots (or, more rarely, dicotyls), are one of the two groups into which all the flowering plants (angiosperms) were formerly divided. The name refers to one of the typical characteristics of the group: namely, t ...
ous woody xylem is also absent. The absence of
secondary growth In botany, secondary growth is the growth that results from cell division in the cambia or lateral meristems and that causes the stems and roots to thicken, while primary growth is growth that occurs as a result of cell division at the tips of ...
wood causes the stems of monocots, including the palms and large bamboos, to be columnar rather than tapering. Bamboos include some of the fastest-growing plants in the world, due to a unique
rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
-dependent system. Certain species of bamboo can grow within a 24-hour period, at a rate of almost an hour (equivalent to 1 mm every 90 seconds). This rapid growth and tolerance for marginal land, make bamboo a good candidate for
afforestation Afforestation is the establishment of a forest or stand of trees (forestation) in an area where there was no previous tree cover. Many government and non-governmental organizations directly engage in afforestation programs to create forests a ...
,
carbon sequestration Carbon sequestration is the process of storing carbon in a carbon pool. Carbon dioxide () is naturally captured from the atmosphere through biological, chemical, and physical processes. These changes can be accelerated through changes in land ...
and
climate change mitigation Climate change mitigation is action to limit climate change by reducing Greenhouse gas emissions, emissions of greenhouse gases or Carbon sink, removing those gases from the atmosphere. The recent rise in global average temperature is mostly caus ...
. Bamboo is versatile and has notable economic and cultural significance in
South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...
,
Southeast Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, south-eastern region of Asia, consistin ...
,
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, and
East Asia East Asia is the eastern region of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The modern states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. China, North Korea, South Korea and ...
, being used for
building material Building material is material used for construction. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, rock (geology), rocks, sand, wood, and even twigs and leaves, have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materia ...
s, as a food source, and as a raw product, and depicted often in arts, such as in
bamboo painting Works of bamboo painting, usually in ink, are a recognized genre of East Asian painting. In a work of bamboo painting in ink, a skilled artist and calligrapher will paint a bamboo stalk or group of stalks with leaves. The contrast between the for ...
s and bambooworking. Bamboo, like
wood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin th ...
, is a natural
composite material A composite material (also called a composition material or shortened to composite, which is the common name) is a material which is produced from two or more constituent materials. These constituent materials have notably dissimilar chemical or ...
with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures. Bamboo's strength-to-weight ratio is similar to
timber Lumber is wood that has been processed into dimensional lumber, including beams and planks or boards, a stage in the process of wood production. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, wi ...
, and its strength is generally similar to a strong
softwood file:Pinus sylvestris wood ray section 1 beentree.jpg, Scots Pine, a typical and well-known softwood Softwood is wood from gymnosperm trees such as conifers. The term is opposed to hardwood, which is the wood from angiosperm trees. The main diff ...
or
hardwood Hardwood is wood from dicot trees. These are usually found in broad-leaved temperate and tropical forests. In temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen. Hardwood (which comes from ...
timber.


Taxonomy

Bamboos have long been considered the most primitive grasses, mostly because of the presence of
bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...
eate, indeterminate inflorescences, "pseudospikelets", and flowers with three
lodicule A spikelet, in botany, describes the typical arrangement of the flowers of grasses, sedges and some other Monocots. Each spikelet has one or more florets. The spikelets are further grouped into panicles or spikes. The part of the spikelet that ...
s, six stamens, and three stigmata. Following more recent
molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
research, many
tribes The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in part due to conflic ...
and genera of grasses formerly included in the Bambusoideae are now classified in other subfamilies, e.g. the
Anomochlooideae Anomochlooideae is a subfamily of the true grass family Poaceae. It is sister to all the other grasses. It includes perennial herbs that grow on the shaded floor of forests in the Neotropics The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeogr ...
, the
Puelioideae The Puelioideae is a subfamily of the true grass family Poaceae with two genera, ''Guaduella'' and ''Puelia'', each in its own tribe. Its members grow in the understory of rainforests. This subfamily is one of the earliest-diverging grass linea ...
, and the
Ehrhartoideae Oryzoideae ( syn. Ehrhartoideae) is a subfamily of the true grass family Poaceae. It has around 120 species in 19 genera, notably including the major cereal crop rice. Within the grasses, this subfamily is one of three belonging to the species-ri ...
. The subfamily in its current sense belongs to the
BOP clade The BOP clade (sometimes ''BEP clade'') is one of two major lineages (or clades) of undefined taxonomic rank in the grasses (Poaceae), containing more than 5,400 species, about half of all grasses. Its sister group is the PACMAD clade; contrary ...
of grasses, where it is sister to the Pooideae (bluegrasses and relatives). The bamboos comprise three clades classified as tribes, and these strongly correspond with geographic divisions representing the New World herbaceous species ( Olyreae), tropical woody bamboos (
Bambuseae The Bambuseae are the most diverse tribe of bamboos in the grass family (Poaceae). They consist of woody species from tropical regions, including some giant bamboos. Their sister group are the small herbaceous bamboos from the tropics in tribe Ol ...
), and temperate woody bamboos (
Arundinarieae Arundinarieae is a tribe of bamboo in the grass family (Poaceae) containing a single subtribe, Arundinariinae, and 31 genera. These woody bamboos occur in areas with warm temperate climates in southeastern North America, Subsaharan Africa, South ...
). The woody bamboos do not form a monophyletic group; instead, the tropical woody and herbaceous bamboos are sister to the temperate woody bamboos. Altogether, more than 1,400 species are placed in 115 genera. 21 genera: *Subtribe Buergersiochloinae *:one genus: '' Buergersiochloa''. *Subtribe Olyrineae *:17 genera: '' Agnesia'', '' Arberella'', '' Cryptochloa'', '' Diandrolyra'', '' Ekmanochloa'', ''
Froesiochloa ''Froesiochloa'' is a genus of South American plants in the grass family. The only known species is ''Froesiochloa boutelouoides'', native to Guyana, French Guiana, and Brazil (Amapá, Pará).Judziewicz, E. J. 1990. Family 187. Poaceae (Gramine ...
'', '' Lithachne'', '' Maclurolyra'', '' Mniochloa'', '' Olyra'', '' Parodiolyra'', '' Piresiella'', ''
Raddia ''Raddia'' is a genus of South American plants in the Poaceae, grass family, most of the species found only in Brazil. The genus was named for Italian botanist and herpetologist Giuseppe Raddi, 1770–1829. ;SpeciesHokche, O., P. E. Berry & O. ...
'', '' Raddiella'', ''
Rehia ''Rehia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. The only known species is ''Rehia nervata'', native to Brazil ( Amapá, Pará, Maranhão) and to the Guianas ( Suriname, Guyana, French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guy ...
'', '' Reitzia'' (syn. '' Piresia''), '' Sucrea''. *Subtribe Parianinae *:three genera: '' Eremitis'', '' Pariana'', '' Parianella''. 73 genera: * Subtribe
Arthrostylidiinae The Arthrostylidiinae is a subtribe of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae of the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purp ...
: *:15 genera: ''
Actinocladum ''Actinocladum'' is a South American genus of bamboo in the grass family. ;Species The only known species is ''Actinocladum verticillatum.'' The species is widespread across Bolivia and much of Brazil.Renvoize, S. A. 1998. Gramíneas de Boliv ...
'', '' Alvimia'', ''
Arthrostylidium ''Arthrostylidium'' is a Neotropical genus of climbing bamboo in the grass family. the species are native to Central America, the West Indies, northern South America, and southern Mexico. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Ampelocalamus Aulonem ...
'', '' Athroostachys'', '' Atractantha'', ''
Aulonemia ''Aulonemia'' is a genus of Latin American bamboo in the grass family. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Colanthelia Olmeca'' * ''Aulonemia cingulata - Colanthelia cingulata'' * ''Aulonemia clarkiae - Olmeca clarkiae'' * ''Aulonemia fulgor ...
'', '' Cambajuva'', '' Colanthelia'', '' Didymogonyx'', '' Elytrostachys'', ''
Filgueirasia ''Filgueirasia'' is a genus of Brazilian bamboo in the grass family. Members of the genus were originally published as species of ''Apoclada'' and were classified in that genus for many years.McClure, F. 1973. Genera of Bamboos Native to the Ne ...
'', ''
Glaziophyton ''Glaziophyton'' is a Brazilian genus of bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family. Species The only known species is ''Glaziophyton mirabile,'' native to the State of Rio de Janeiro (state), Rio de Janeiro in southeastern Brazil. References

...
'', '' Merostachys'', '' Myriocladus'', '' Rhipidocladum''. * Subtribe
Bambusinae The Bambusinae are a subtribe of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae of the family Poaceae). It comprises 17 genera. Genera *''Bambusa'' *''Bonia'' *'' Cochinchinochloa'' *''Dendrocalamus'' *''Fimbribambusa'' *''Gigantochloa'' *'' Laobambos'' *'' Maclu ...
: *:17 genera: '' Bambusa'', ''
Bonia ''Bonia'' is a genus of Chinese and Vietnamese bamboos in the grass family. ;Species * ''Bonia amplexicaulis'' (L.C.Chia, H.L.Fung & Y.L.Yang) N.H.Xia – Guangxi * ''Bonia levigata'' (L.C.Chia, H.L.Fung & Y.L.Yang) N.H.Xia – Hainan * ''Bonia ...
'', ''
Cochinchinochloa ''Cochinchinochloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal g ...
'', '' Dendrocalamus'', ''
Fimbribambusa ''Bambusa'' is a large genus of clumping bamboos. Most species of ''Bambusa'' are rather large, with numerous branches emerging from the nodes, and one or two much larger than the rest. The branches can be as long as 11 m (35 ft). The ...
'', '' Gigantochloa'', ''
Maclurochloa The Bambusinae are a subtribe of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae of the family Poaceae). It comprises 17 genera. Genera *''Bambusa'' *''Bonia'' *''Cochinchinochloa'' *''Dendrocalamus'' *''Fimbribambusa'' *''Gigantochloa'' *'' Laobambos'' *'' Macluro ...
'', ''
Melocalamus ''Melocalamus'' is a genus of Asian bamboos in the grass family. It is found in lowland areas of Southern China, Indochina, and the eastern part of the Indian Subcontinent. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Dinochloa ''Dinochloa'' is a gen ...
'', ''
Neomicrocalamus ''Neomicrocalamus'' is an Asian genus of bamboo in the grass family. Species The genus contains the following species: * ''Neomicrocalamus andropogonifolius'' (Griff.) Stapleton – Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh * ''Neomicrocalamus dongvanensis'' T ...
'', ''
Oreobambos ''Oreobambos buchwaldii'' is the sole representative of ''Oreobambos'', a monotypic African genus of bamboo, most closely related to the large genus ''Bambusa'' from tropical Asia and America. It is large and perennial with arching stems up to 20 ...
'', ''
Oxytenanthera ''Oxytenanthera'' is a genus of African bamboo. Bamboos are members of the grass family Poaceae. The only recognized species in this genus is ''Oxytenanthera abyssinica''. This species is found widespread across much of sub-Saharan Africa. In ...
'', ''
Phuphanochloa ''Phuphanochloa'' is a genus of flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, ves ...
'', ''
Pseudoxytenanthera ''Pseudoxytenanthera'' is a genus of Asian bamboo in the grass family native to India, Sri Lanka, and Indochina. ;Species # '' Pseudoxytenanthera bourdillonii'' (Gamble) H.B.Naithani – India # '' Pseudoxytenanthera monadelpha'' (Thwaites) So ...
'', ''
Soejatmia ''Soejatmia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. It just contains one species, ''Soejatmia ridleyi'' (Gamble) K.M.Wong Its native range is from the peninsula of Thailand to Malaya. The genus name of ''Soe ...
'', ''
Thyrsostachys ''Thyrsostachys'' is a genus of Chinese and Indochinese bamboo in the grass family. ;Species # ''Thyrsostachys oliveri'' Gamble - edible-seeded bamboo - Yunnan, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand; naturalised in Assam + Bangladesh # ''Thyrsostachys siame ...
'', ''
Vietnamosasa ''Vietnamosasa'' is a genus of Indochinese bamboo in the grass family. ;Species # ''Vietnamosasa ciliata'' (A.Camus) T.Q.Nguyen – Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam # ''Vietnamosasa darlacensis'' T.Q.Nguyen – Vietnam # ''Vietnamosasa pusilla'' (A.Chev. ...
'', ''
Yersinochloa ''Yersinochloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. Its native range is Vietnam. Species: * ''Yersinochloa dalatensis ''Yersinochloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae Poaceae ...
''. * Subtribe
Chusqueinae ''Chusquea'' is a genus of evergreen bamboos in the grass family. Most of them are native to mountain habitats in Latin America, from Mexico to southern Chile and Argentina. They are sometimes referred to as South American mountain bamboos. Un ...
: *:one genus: ''
Chusquea ''Chusquea'' is a genus of evergreen bamboos in the grass family. Most of them are native to mountain habitats in Latin America, from Mexico to southern Chile and Argentina. They are sometimes referred to as South American mountain bamboos. Unl ...
''. * Subtribe Dinochloinae: *:7 genera: ''
Cyrtochloa ''Cyrtochloa'' is a genus of Philippine bamboo Bamboos are a diverse group of evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass fami ...
'', '' Dinochloa'', '' Mullerochloa'', '' Neololeba'', ''
Pinga In Inuit religion, Pinga ("the one who is p onhigh") is a goddess of the hunt and medicine. She is heavily associated with the sky. Caribou Inuit tradition In Caribou Inuit communities, Pinga had some authority over caribou herds. She became a ...
'', ''
Parabambusa ''Parabambusa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. Its native range is New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu: ''Niu Gini''; id, Papua, or , historically ) is the world's second-largest island with an area of . ...
'', '' Sphaerobambos''. * Subtribe
Greslaniinae ''Greslania'' is a genus of small perennial bamboo, bamboos in the Poaceae, grass family, endemic (ecology), endemic to New Caledonia, with 4 accepted species.
: *:one genus: ''
Greslania ''Greslania'' is a genus of small perennial bamboos in the grass family, endemic to New Caledonia, with 4 accepted species.
''. * Subtribe
Guaduinae The Guaduinae is a subtribe of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae of the family Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, ...
: *:5 genera: ''
Apoclada ''Apoclada'' is a genus of Brazilian bamboo in the grass family). The only known species is ''Apoclada simplex'', found in the forests of southeastern Brazil (States of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and São Paulo).Renvoize, S. A. 1988. Hatschbach ...
'', ''
Eremocaulon ''Eremocaulon'' is a genus of Brazilian bamboo in the grass family. ;SpeciesLondoño, X. & L. G. Clark. 2002. A revision of the Brazilian bamboo genus ''Eremocaulon'' (Poaceae: Bambuseae: Guaduinae). Systematic Botany 27(4): 703–721. # ''Erem ...
'', ''
Guadua ''Guadua'' is a Neotropical genus of thorny, clumping bamboo in the grass family, ranging from moderate to very large species. Physically, ''Guadua angustifolia'' is noted for being the largest Neotropical bamboo. The genus is similar to ''Bam ...
'', ''
Olmeca ''Olmeca'' is a genus of Mesoamerican bamboo in the grass family. ''Olmeca'' is the only known New World bamboo having large fleshy fruits. It also has rhizomes with long necks and very open clumps. The genus is named for the Olmec peoples of ...
'', ''
Otatea ''Otatea,'' called weeping bamboo, is a genus of clumping bamboos in the grass family, native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia.Ruiz-Sanchez, E., V. Sosa, M. T. Mejía-Saules, X. Londoño & L. G. Clark. 2011. A taxonomic revision of ''Ota ...
''. * Subtribe
Hickeliinae The Hickeliinae are a subtribe of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae of the family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose o ...
: *:9 genera: ''
Cathariostachys ''Cathariostachys'' is a genus of Madagascan bamboo in the grass family. ;Species # '' Cathariostachys capitata'' - eastern Madagascar # ''Cathariostachys madagascariensis'' (A.Camus) S.Dransf. - central Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, ...
'', ''
Decaryochloa ''Decaryochloa'' is a genus of Madagascar, Madagascan bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family. There is only one known species, ''Decaryochloa diadelpha'', found only in Madagascar. Description ''Decaryochloa'' is a bamboo liana. It flowers in Apri ...
'', ''
Hickelia ''Hickelia'' is a genus of African bamboo in the grass family. ;Species # ''Hickelia africana'' S.Dransf. - Tanzania # ''Hickelia alaotrensis'' A.Camus - Madagascar # ''Hickelia madagascariensis'' A.Camus - Madagascar # ''Hickelia perrieri'' (A ...
'', ''
Hitchcockella ''Hitchcockella baronii'' is a species of bamboo, the only known species of the genus ''Hitchcockella''. It is found in Madagascar and was first described by Aimée Antoinette Camus Aimée Antoinette Camus (1 May 1879 – 17 April 1965) w ...
'', ''
Nastus ''Nastus'' is a genus of slender, erect, scrambling or climbing bamboos in the grass family. It is native to Southeast Asia, Papuasia, and certain islands in the Indian Ocean (Madagascar and Réunion). ;Species ;formerly included see ''Arundin ...
'', ''
Perrierbambus ''Perrierbambus'' is a genus of Madagascan bamboo in the grass family. The genus name of ''Perrierbambus'' is in honour of Joseph Marie Henry Alfred Perrier de la Bâthie (1873–1958), a French botanist who specialized in the plants of Madaga ...
'', ''
Sirochloa ''Sirochloa'' is a genus of bamboo in the grass family. ;Species There is only one known species, ''Sirochloa parvifolia'', found in Madagascar and in nearby Comoros and Mayotte Mayotte (; french: Mayotte, ; Shimaore: ''Maore'', ; Kibushi ...
'', ''
Sokinochloa ''Sokinochloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. Its native range is Madagascar. Species Species: *''Sokinochloa australis'' *''Sokinochloa bosseri'' *''Sokinochloa brachyclada'' *''Sokinochloa chapelieri'' *' ...
'', '' Valiha''. * Subtribe Holttumochloinae: *:3 genera: ''
Holttumochloa ''Holttumochloa'' is a genus of Malaysian bamboos in the Poaceae, grass family native to the hill forests of Peninsular Malaysia. It is sometimes included in the genus ''Bambusa''. The genus name of ''Holttumochloa'' is in honour of Richard Eric ...
'', '' Kinabaluchloa'', '' Nianhochloa''. * Subtribe
Melocanninae The Melocanninae is a subtribe of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae of the family Poaceae). Genera Nine genera were accepted by Soreng et al.: *'' Annamocalamus'' *''Cephalostachyum'' *''Davidsea'' *''Melocanna'' *''Neohouzeaua'' *''Ochlandra'' *''P ...
: *:9 genera: ''
Annamocalamus ''Annamocalamus'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. Its native range is Indo-China Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. I ...
'', ''
Cephalostachyum ''Cephalostachyum'' is a genus of Asian and Madagascan bamboo in the grass family. The plants are of small to medium size compared to most other bamboo. Their choice habitats are mountain to lowland forests. ;Species ;formerly included see '' ...
'', ''
Davidsea ''Davidsea attenuata'' is a Sri Lankan species of bamboo in the grass family.Melocanna ''Melocanna'' is a genus of Asian clumping bamboo in the grass family. The 48-year cycle of '' M. baccifera'' in northeastern India is responsible for the phenomenon called "''mautam''" or "bamboo death", in which large populations of bamboo flo ...
'', ''
Neohouzeaua ''Neohouzeaua'' is a genus of Asian bamboo within the Poaceae, grass family).Ochlandra ''Ochlandra'' is a genus of Indian bamboo in the grass family). The species are endemic to the Western Ghats (India), except for one species from Sri Lanka. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Cathariostachys Nastus Schizostachyum Valiha'' * ...
'', ''
Pseudostachyum ''Pseudostachyum polymorphum'' is a monotypic Asian species of bamboo in the grass family.Schizostachyum ''Schizostachyum'' is a tall or shrub-like tropical genus of bamboo. They are natives mostly of tropical Asia and Papuasia, with a few species in Madagascar and on certain islands in the Pacific. A few have become naturalized in other tropical ...
'', ''
Stapletonia The Melocanninae is a subtribe of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae of the family Poaceae). Genera Nine genera were accepted by Soreng et al.: *'' Annamocalamus'' *''Cephalostachyum'' *''Davidsea'' *''Melocanna'' *''Neohouzeaua'' *''Ochlandra'' *''P ...
''. * Subtribe Racemobambosinae: *:3 genera: '' Chloothamnus'', '' Racemobambos'', '' Widjajachloa''. * Subtribe Temburongiinae: *:one genus: '' Temburongia''. * '' incertae sedis'' *:2 genera: '' Ruhooglandia'', ''
Temochloa ''Temochloa'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, ...
''. 31 genera: ''
Acidosasa ''Acidosasa'' is a genus of East Asian bamboo in the grass family. ''Acidosasa'' is found primarily in Southern China, with 1 species in Vietnam. Its name is formed from Latin ''acidum'' ("sour") and ''Sasa'' (another bamboo genus), referring to ...
'', '' Ampelocalamus'', '' Arundinaria'', '' Bashania'', '' Bergbambos'', '' Chimonobambusa'', ''
Chimonocalamus ''Chimonocalamus'' is a genus of Asian bamboo in the grass family. It is native to China, the eastern Himalayas, and northern Indochina. Some of the species are aromatic and grown as ornamental plants. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Chim ...
'', ''
Drepanostachyum ''Drepanostachyum'' is an Asian genus of medium-sized mountain clumping bamboos in the grass family. They are native to China, Indochina, and the Indian Subcontinent. Taxonomy The differences between this genus and ''Himalayacalamus'' are subt ...
'', '' Fargesia'', ''
Ferrocalamus ''Ferrocalamus'', or iron bamboo, is a genus of Chinese bamboo in the grass family. endemic to China. The plant is known only from southern Yunnan, at elevations of 900 to 1,200 m above sea level. Taxonomy The genus ''Ferrocalamus'' is re ...
'', ''
Gaoligongshania ''Gaoligongshania megalothyrsa'' is a species of small, bushy mountain bamboo, in the monotypic genus ''Gaoligongshania''. Like '' Ferrocalamus'', this genus is found only in Yunnan Province of China, and near the Myanmar border, at an altitude ...
'', ''
Gelidocalamus ''Gelidocalamus'' is a genus of small to medium-sized bamboos in the grass family, native primarily to the mountains of eastern China, although one species ''( G. kunishii)'' is native to Taiwan and to the Nansei-shoto (Ryukyu Islands) region i ...
'', ''
Himalayacalamus ''Himalayacalamus'' is an Asian genus of mountain clumping bamboo in the grass family. Species members are found growing at lower altitudes of the Himalaya in Bhutan, Tibet, India, and Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेप ...
'', '' Indocalamus'', ''
Indosasa ''Indosasa'' is a genus of East Asian bamboo in the grass family. The species are native to China and Indochina ( Laos and Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a ...
'', '' Kuruna'', '' Oldeania'', ''
Oligostachyum ''Oligostachyum'' is a genus of bamboo in the grass family, native to coastal China. The genus is sometimes considered a synonym of ''Arundinaria''. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Pseudosasa'' * ''Oligostachyum orthotropoides – Pseud ...
'', '' Phyllostachys'', '' Pleioblastus'', '' Pseudosasa'', ''
Sarocalamus ''Sarocalamus'' is a genus of Asian bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family. ;Species # ''Sarocalamus faberi'' (Rendle) Stapleton – Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou # ''Sarocalamus racemosus'' (Munro) Stapleton – Tibet, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Myanmar ...
'', ''
Sasa Sasa may refer to: People * Saša, a given name * Genjū Sasa (1900–1959), Japanese film director and critic * Sa'sa'a bin Sohan (598–666), a companion of Imam Ali revered by Shia Muslims * Sasa (politician), special envoy to the United Nation ...
'', ''
Sasaella ''Sasaella'' is a genus of Japanese bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family.Suzuki, S. 1976. A revision of the genus ''Sasaella'' Makino (Bambusaceae). (3). Journal of Japanese Botany 51: 220–224. ;Species # ''Sasaella bitchuensis'' (Makino) Koidz ...
'', ''
Sasamorpha ''Sasamorpha'' is a genus of East Asian bamboo in the grass family.Miyabe, Kingo. 1930. Flora of Hokkaido and Saghalien, 2: 180, Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Imperial University, Sapporo, v. 26, pt. 1–4 ;Species # '' Sasamo ...
'', ''
Semiarundinaria ''Semiarundinaria'' is a genus of East Asian bamboo in the grass family. ''Semiarundinaria'' is native to temperate and subtropical woodland in China and Japan. The plants are generally rhizomatous, tall and erect bamboos with cylindrical st ...
'', ''
Shibataea ''Shibataea'' is a genus of Chinese bamboos in the grass family. They are unique shorter bamboos with dark green leaves. This genus is more closely related to the genus ''Phyllostachys'' than other small bamboos. Excellent as tall groundcover or ...
'', ''
Sinobambusa ''Sinobambusa'' is a genus of East Asian bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family.Clayton, W.D., Harman, K.T. & Williamson, H. (2006). World Grass Species – Synonymy database. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It is native to ...
'', ''
Thamnocalamus ''Thamnocalamus'' is a genus of clumping bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family. These species are found from the Himalayas as well as Madagascar and Southern Africa. ''Thamnocalamus'' is closely related to ''Fargesia.'' The two genera are sometime ...
'', '' Vietnamocalamus'', ''
Yushania ''Yushania'' is a genus of bamboo in the grass family. Recent classification systems place ''Yushania'' in the tribe Arundinarieae. The species of ''Yushania'' are evergreen, spreading, thornless bamboos native to Himalayan, African, Chinese ...
''.


Distribution

Most bamboo species are native to warm and moist tropical and to warm temperate climates. However, many species are found in diverse climates, ranging from hot tropical regions to cool mountainous regions and highland
cloud forest A cloud forest, also called a water forest, primas forest, or tropical montane cloud forest (TMCF), is a generally tropical or subtropical, evergreen, montane, moist forest characterized by a persistent, frequent or seasonal low-level cloud c ...
s. In the Asia-Pacific region they occur across East Asia, from north to 50 °N latitude in
Sakhalin Sakhalin ( rus, Сахали́н, r=Sakhalín, p=səxɐˈlʲin; ja, 樺太 ''Karafuto''; zh, c=, p=Kùyèdǎo, s=库页岛, t=庫頁島; Manchu: ᠰᠠᡥᠠᠯᡳᠶᠠᠨ, ''Sahaliyan''; Orok: Бугата на̄, ''Bugata nā''; Nivkh: ...
, to south to northern Australia, and west to India and the
Himalayas The Himalayas, or Himalaya (; ; ), is a mountain range in Asia, separating the plains of the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau. The range has some of the planet's highest peaks, including the very highest, Mount Everest. Over 100 ...
. China, Japan, Korea, India and Australia, all have several endemic populations. They also occur in small numbers in
sub-Saharan Africa Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the List of sov ...
, confined to tropical areas, from southern Senegal in the north to southern Mozambique and Madagascar in the south. In the Americas, bamboo has a native range from 47 °S in southern Argentina and the beech forests of central
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the east a ...
, through the South American tropical rainforests, to the
Andes The Andes, Andes Mountains or Andean Mountains (; ) are the longest continental mountain range in the world, forming a continuous highland along the western edge of South America. The range is long, wide (widest between 18°S – 20°S ...
in Ecuador near . Three species of bamboo, all in the genus ''Arundinaria'', are also native through Central America and Mexico, northward into the
Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also referred to as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical region of the United States. It is located broadly on the eastern portion of the southern United States and the southern por ...
. Bamboo thickets called canebrakes once formed a dominant ecosystem in some parts of the Southeastern United States, but they are now considered critically endangered ecosystems. Canada and continental Europe are not known to have any native species of bamboo. As garden plants, many species grow readily outside these ranges, including most of Europe and the United States. Recently, some attempts have been made to grow bamboo on a commercial basis in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, especially in Rwanda. In the United States, several companies are growing, harvesting, and distributing species such as '' Phyllostachys nigra'' (Henon) and '' Phyllostachys edulis'' (Moso). File:მოსო ბამბუკი.JPG, '' Phyllostachys pubescens'' in
Batumi Botanical Garden The Batumi Botanical Garden ( ka, ბათუმის ბოტანიკური ბაღი) is a 108 hectare area of land 9 km north of the city of Batumi, capital of Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Georgia. Located at the place called ...
File:Sagano Bamboo forest, Arashiyama, Kyoto.jpg, Bamboo forest in Arashiyama File:Trilha do Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos Sede Petrópolis.jpg,
Serra dos Órgãos National Park Serra dos Órgãos National Park ( pt, Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos: "Organs Range") is a national park in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It protects the Serra dos Órgãos mountain range and the water sources in the range. It was ...
, Brazil File:Bamboo123.jpg, Bamboo forest in
KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN and known as "the garden province") is a province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu) and Natal Province were merged. It is locate ...
File:Bamboo bambou bambuseae phyllostachys VAN DEN HENDE ALAIN CC-BY-SA-4 0 210520142095.jpg, Bamboo forest in
Isère Isère ( , ; frp, Isera; oc, Isèra, ) is a landlocked department in the southeastern French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Named after the river Isère, it had a population of 1,271,166 in 2019.Rutgers Gardens Rutgers Gardens (130 acres) is the official botanic garden of Rutgers University, located on the outskirts of Cook Campus, at 112 Ryders Lane, North Brunswick, New Jersey. The grounds include 60 acres of designed beds, specialty gardens, tree and ...
,
North Brunswick North Brunswick is a Township (New Jersey), township in Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. It is centrally located in the Raritan River, Raritan Valley region within the New York Metropolitan area. At the ...
,
New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...
File:2288 - bamboo - Alain Van den Hende 17072288 Licence CC BY-SA-3.0.jpg, Bamboo forest in France File:Bamboo forest, Taiwan.jpg, Bamboo forest in Taiwan Bamboo bush at Orange Isle 1.jpg, Bamboo bush at
Orange Isle Orange Isle ( zh, s=橘子洲, t=橘子洲, p=Júzi Zhōu) is an isle in Xiang River, Changsha, Hunan, China. It also known by other names, such as Ju Isle () and Shuilu Isle (). It has a length of , a width of and a total area of . It was also a ...


Ecology

The two general patterns for the growth of bamboo are "clumping", and "running", with short and long underground rhizomes, respectively. Clumping bamboo species tend to spread slowly, as the growth pattern of the rhizomes is to simply expand the root mass gradually, similar to ornamental grasses. "Running" bamboos, though, need to be controlled during cultivation because of their potential for aggressive behavior. They spread mainly through their
rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
s, which can spread widely underground and send up new culms to break through the surface. Running bamboo species are highly variable in their tendency to spread; this is related to both the species and the
soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Some scientific definitions distinguish ''dirt'' from ''soil'' by restricting the former te ...
and
climate Climate is the long-term weather pattern in an area, typically averaged over 30 years. More rigorously, it is the mean and variability of meteorological variables over a time spanning from months to millions of years. Some of the meteorologic ...
conditions. Some can send out runners of several meters a year, while others can stay in the same general area for long periods. If neglected, over time, they can cause problems by moving into adjacent areas. Bamboos include some of the fastest-growing plants on Earth, with reported growth rates up to in 24 hours. However, the growth rate is dependent on local soil and climatic conditions, as well as species, and a more typical growth rate for many commonly cultivated bamboos in temperate climates is in the range of per day during the growing period. Primarily growing in regions of warmer climates during the late Cretaceous period, vast fields existed in what is now Asia. Some of the largest timber bamboo can grow over tall, and be as large as in diameter. However, the size range for mature bamboo is species-dependent, with the smallest bamboos reaching only several inches high at maturity. A typical height range that would cover many of the common bamboos grown in the United States is , depending on species.
Anji County () is a county in the prefecture-level city of Huzhou in northwestern Zhejiang province, China. The county spans an area of , with a population of 461,800 as of the end of 2013. Located within the Yangtze River Delta, Anji County is a short dis ...
of China, known as the "Town of Bamboo", provides the optimal climate and soil conditions to grow, harvest, and process some of the most valued bamboo poles available worldwide. Unlike all trees, individual bamboo culms emerge from the ground at their full diameter and grow to their full height in a single
growing season A season is a division of the year marked by changes in weather, ecology, and the amount of daylight. The growing season is that portion of the year in which local conditions (i.e. rainfall, temperature, daylight) permit normal plant growth. Whil ...
of three to four months. During this time, each new shoot grows vertically into a culm with no branching out until the majority of the mature height is reached. Then, the branches extend from the nodes and leafing out occurs. In the next year, the pulpy wall of each culm slowly hardens. During the third year, the culm hardens further. The shoot is now a fully mature culm. Over the next 2–5 years (depending on species), fungus begins to form on the outside of the culm, which eventually penetrates and overcomes the culm. Around 5–8 years later (species- and climate-dependent), the fungal growths cause the culm to collapse and decay. This brief life means culms are ready for harvest and suitable for use in construction within about three to seven years. Individual bamboo culms do not get any taller or larger in diameter in subsequent years than they do in their first year, and they do not replace any growth lost from pruning or natural breakage. Bamboo has a wide range of hardiness depending on species and locale. Small or young specimens of an individual species produce small culms initially. As the clump and its rhizome system mature, taller and larger culms are produced each year until the plant approaches its particular species limits of height and diameter. Many tropical bamboo species die at or near freezing temperatures, while some of the hardier temperate bamboos can survive temperatures as low as . Some of the hardiest bamboo species can be grown in
USDA plant hardiness zone A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined as having a certain average annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of many plants. In some systems other statistics are included in the calculations. The original and most wide ...
5, although they typically defoliate and may even lose all above-ground growth, yet the rhizomes survive and send up shoots again the next spring. In milder climates, such as USDA zone 7 and above, most bamboo remain fully leafed out and green year-round.


Mass flowering

Bamboos seldom and unpredictably flower and the frequency of flowering varies greatly from species to species. Once flowering takes place, a plant declines and often dies entirely. In fact, many species only flower at intervals as long as 65 or 120 years. These taxa exhibit
mass flowering Flowering synchrony is the amount of overlap between flowering periods of plants in their mating season compared to what would be expected to occur randomly under given environmental conditions. A population which is flowering synchronously has more ...
(or gregarious flowering), with all plants in a particular 'cohort' flowering over a several-year period. Any plant derived through clonal propagation from this cohort will also flower regardless of whether it has been planted in a different location. The longest mass flowering interval known is 130 years, and it is for the species ''
Phyllostachys bambusoides ''Phyllostachys bambusoides'', commonly called , giant timber bamboo, or Japanese timber bamboo, is a species of flowering plant in the bamboo subfamily of the grass family Poaceae, native to China, and possibly also to Japan. Description ''Phyl ...
'' (Sieb. & Zucc.). In this species, all plants of the same stock flower at the same time, regardless of differences in geographic locations or climatic conditions, and then the bamboo dies. The lack of environmental impact on the time of flowering indicates the presence of some sort of "alarm clock" in each cell of the plant which signals the diversion of all energy to flower production and the cessation of vegetative growth. This mechanism, as well as the evolutionary cause behind it, is still largely a mystery.


Invasive species

Some bamboo species are acknowledged as having high potential for becoming
invasive species An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...
. A study commissioned by International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation, found that invasive species typically are varieties that spread via
rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome (; , ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
s rather than by clumping, as most commercially viable woody bamboos do. Certain bamboos have become problematic, such as the '' Phyllostachys'' species of bamboo which are considered invasive and illegal to sell or propagate in some areas of the US. There are approximately 61 species of '' Phyllostachys''.


Animal diet

Soft bamboo shoots, stems and leaves are the major food source of the
giant panda The giant panda (''Ailuropoda melanoleuca''), also known as the panda bear (or simply the panda), is a bear species endemic to China. It is characterised by its bold black-and-white coat and rotund body. The name "giant panda" is sometimes us ...
of China, the red panda of
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
, and the
bamboo lemur The bamboo lemurs or gentle lemurs are the lemurs in genus ''Hapalemur''. These medium-sized primates live exclusively on Madagascar. Etymology Bamboo lemurs were first described by French zoologist Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire in 1851. Compar ...
s of
Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...
. Rats eat the fruits as described above.
Mountain gorilla The mountain gorilla (''Gorilla beringei beringei'') is one of the two subspecies of the eastern gorilla. It is listed as endangered by the IUCN as of 2018. There are two populations: One is found in the Virunga volcanic mountains of Central/ ...
s of
Central Africa Central Africa is a subregion of the African continent comprising various countries according to different definitions. Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, ...
also feed on bamboo, and have been documented consuming bamboo
sap Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a separa ...
which was fermented and alcoholic; chimpanzees and
elephant Elephants are the largest existing land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae an ...
s of the region also eat the stalks. The
golden bamboo lemur The golden bamboo lemur (''Hapalemur aureus''), or in Malagasy, is a medium-sized bamboo lemur endemic to south-eastern Madagascar. Description The golden bamboo lemur is crepuscular i.e. is a most active at dawn and dusk. It is about the siz ...
ingests many times the quantity of the taxiphyllin-containing bamboo that would kill a human. The larvae of the
bamboo borer Bamboo borer may refer to: * ''Dinoderus minutus'', a woodboring beetle native to Asia * ''Omphisa fuscidentalis ''Omphisa'' is a genus of moths of the family Crambidae described by Frederic Moore in 1886. Species *''Omphisa anastomosalis'' (Gue ...
(the
moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...
''
Omphisa fuscidentalis ''Omphisa'' is a genus of moths of the family Crambidae described by Frederic Moore in 1886. Species *''Omphisa anastomosalis'' (Guenée, 1854) *''Omphisa caustalis'' Hampson, 1913 *''Omphisa fuscidentalis'' (Hampson, 1896) *''Omphisa illisalis'' ...
'') of
Laos Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...
,
Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
,
Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
and
Yunnan, China Yunnan , () is a landlocked province in the southwest of the People's Republic of China. The province spans approximately and has a population of 48.3 million (as of 2018). The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders the C ...
feed off the pulp of live bamboo. In turn, these
caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder Sym ...
s are considered a local delicacy.


Cultivation


General


Harvesting

Bamboo used for construction purposes must be harvested when the culms reach their greatest strength and when sugar levels in the
sap Sap is a fluid transported in xylem cells (vessel elements or tracheids) or phloem sieve tube elements of a plant. These cells transport water and nutrients throughout the plant. Sap is distinct from latex, resin, or cell sap; it is a separa ...
are at their lowest, as high sugar content increases the ease and rate of
pest Pest or The Pest may refer to: Science and medicine * Pest (organism), an animal or plant deemed to be detrimental to humans or human concerns ** Weed, a plant considered undesirable * Infectious disease, an illness resulting from an infection ** ...
infestation. As compared to forest trees, bamboo species grow fast. Bamboo plantations can be readily harvested for a shorter period than tree plantations. Harvesting of bamboo is typically undertaken according to these cycles: * Lifecycle of the culm: As each individual culm goes through a 5- to 7-year lifecycle, culms are ideally allowed to reach this level of maturity prior to full capacity harvesting. The clearing out or thinning of culms, particularly older decaying culms, helps to ensure adequate light and resources for new growth. Well-maintained clumps may have a productivity three to four times that of an unharvested wild clump. Consistent with the lifecycle described above, bamboo is harvested from two to three years through to five to seven years, depending on the species. * Annual cycle: As all growth of new bamboo occurs during the
wet season The wet season (sometimes called the Rainy season) is the time of year when most of a region's average annual rainfall occurs. It is the time of year where the majority of a country's or region's annual precipitation occurs. Generally, the sea ...
, disturbing the clump during this phase will potentially damage the upcoming crop. Also during this high-rainfall period, sap levels are at their highest, and then diminish towards the
dry season The dry season is a yearly period of low rainfall, especially in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which moves from the northern to the southern tropics and back over the course of the year. The te ...
. Picking immediately prior to the wet/growth season may also damage new shoots. Hence, harvesting is best a few months prior to the start of the wet season. * Daily cycle: During the height of the day,
photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a process used by plants and other organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy that, through cellular respiration, can later be released to fuel the organism's activities. Some of this chemical energy is stored i ...
is at its peak, producing the highest levels of sugar in sap, making this the least ideal time of day to harvest. Many traditional practitioners believe the best time to harvest is at dawn or dusk on a waning moon.


Leaching

Leaching is the removal of sap after harvest. In many areas of the world, the sap levels in harvested bamboo are reduced either through leaching or postharvest photosynthesis. For example: * Cut bamboo is raised clear of the ground and leaned against the rest of the clump for one to two weeks until leaves turn yellow to allow full consumption of sugars by the plant. * A similar method is undertaken, but with the base of the culm standing in fresh water, either in a large drum or stream to leach out sap. * Cut culms are immersed in a running stream and weighted down for three to four weeks. * Water is pumped through the freshly cut culms, forcing out the sap (this method is often used in conjunction with the injection of some form of treatment). In the process of water leaching, the bamboo is dried slowly and evenly in the shade to avoid cracking in the outer skin of the bamboo, thereby reducing opportunities for pest infestation. Durability of bamboo in construction is directly related to how well it is handled from the moment of planting through harvesting, transportation, storage, design, construction, and maintenance. Bamboo harvested at the correct time of year and then exposed to ground contact or rain will break down just as quickly as incorrectly harvested material.


Toxicity

Gardeners working with bamboo plants have occasionally reported allergic reactions varying from no effects during previous exposures, to immediate itchiness and rash developing into red welts after several hours where the skin had been in contact with the plant (
contact allergy Contact dermatitis is a type of acute or chronic inflammation of the skin caused by exposure to chemical or physical agents. Symptoms of contact dermatitis can include itchy or dry skin, a red rash, bumps, blisters, or swelling. These rashes are ...
), and in some cases into swollen eyelids and breathing difficulties (dyspnoea). A skin prick test using bamboo extract was positive for the immunoglobulin E (IgE) in an available case study. The shoots (newly emerged culms) of bamboo contain the toxin taxiphyllin (a
cyanogenic glycoside In chemistry, a glycoside is a molecule in which a sugar is bound to another functional group via a glycosidic bond. Glycosides play numerous important roles in living organisms. Many plants store chemicals in the form of inactive glycosides. ...
), which produces
cyanide Cyanide is a naturally occurring, rapidly acting, toxic chemical that can exist in many different forms. In chemistry, a cyanide () is a chemical compound that contains a functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of ...
in the gut.


Uses


Culinary

The shoots of most species are edible either raw or cooked, with the tough sheath removed. Cooking removes the slight bitterness. The shoots are used in numerous Asian dishes and broths, and are available in supermarkets in various sliced forms, in both fresh and canned versions. The bamboo shoot in its fermented state forms an important ingredient in cuisines across the Himalayas. In
Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur ...
, India, for example, it is called ''khorisa''. In
Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...
, a delicacy popular across ethnic boundaries consists of bamboo shoots fermented with turmeric and oil, and cooked with potatoes into a dish that usually accompanies rice ( () in
Nepali Nepali or Nepalese may refer to : Concerning Nepal * Anything of, from, or related to Nepal * Nepali people, citizens of Nepal * Nepali language, an Indo-Aryan language found in Nepal, the current official national language and a language spoken ...
). In
Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...
, they are sliced thin and then boiled with ''santan'' (thick coconut milk) and spices to make a dish called ''
gulai rebung ''Gulai'' is a class of spicy and rich stew commonly found in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The main ingredients of this dish are usually poultry, goat meat, beef, mutton, various kinds of offal, fish and seafood, as well as vegetables su ...
''. Other recipes using bamboo shoots are ''
sayur lodeh Sayur lodeh is an Indonesian vegetable soup prepared from vegetables in coconut milk popular in Indonesia, but most often associated with Javanese cuisine. Ingredients Common ingredients are young unripe jackfruit, eggplant, chayote, ''melinjo'' ...
'' (mixed vegetables in coconut milk) and ''lun pia'' (sometimes written '' lumpia'': fried wrapped bamboo shoots with vegetables). The shoots of some species contain toxins that need to be leached or boiled out before they can be eaten safely. Pickled bamboo, used as a condiment, may also be made from the pith of the young shoots. The sap of young stalks tapped during the rainy season may be fermented to make ''ulanzi'' (a sweet wine) or simply made into a soft drink. Bamboo leaves are also used as wrappers for steamed dumplings which usually contains glutinous rice and other ingredients, such as the zongzi from China. Pickled bamboo shoots ( ne, तामा, link=no ) are cooked with black-eyed beans as a delicacy in Nepal. Many Nepalese restaurants around the world serve this dish as ''aloo bodi tama''. Fresh bamboo shoots are sliced and pickled with mustard seeds and turmeric and kept in glass jar in direct sunlight for the best taste. It is used alongside many dried beans in cooking during winters. Baby shoots (
Nepali Nepali or Nepalese may refer to : Concerning Nepal * Anything of, from, or related to Nepal * Nepali people, citizens of Nepal * Nepali language, an Indo-Aryan language found in Nepal, the current official national language and a language spoken ...
: ''tusa'') of a very different variety of bamboo ( ne, निगालो, link=no ) native to Nepal is cooked as a curry in hilly regions. In Sambalpur, India, the tender shoots are grated into juliennes and fermented to prepare ''kardi''. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word for bamboo shoot, ''karira''. This fermented bamboo shoot is used in various culinary preparations, notably ''amil'', a sour vegetable soup. It is also made into pancakes using rice flour as a binding agent. The shoots that have turned a little fibrous are fermented, dried, and ground to sand-sized particles to prepare a garnish known as ''hendua''. It is also cooked with tender pumpkin leaves to make sag green leaves. In Konkani cuisine, the tender shoots (''kirlu'') are grated and cooked with crushed jackfruit seeds to prepare ''kirla sukke''. In southern India and some regions of southwest China, the seeds of the dying bamboo plant are consumed as a grain known as "bamboo rice". The taste of cooked bamboo seeds is reported to be similar to wheat and the appearance similar to rice, but bamboo seeds have been found to have lower nutrient levels than both. The seeds can be pulverized into a flour with which to make cakes. The Indian state of
Sikkim Sikkim (; ) is a state in Northeastern India. It borders the Tibet Autonomous Region of China in the north and northeast, Bhutan in the east, Province No. 1 of Nepal in the west and West Bengal in the south. Sikkim is also close to the Siligur ...
has promoted bamboo water bottles to keep the state free from plastic bottles The empty hollow in the stalks of larger bamboo is often used to cook food in many Asian cultures. Soups are boiled and rice is cooked in the hollows of fresh stalks of bamboo directly over a flame. Similarly, steamed tea is sometimes rammed into bamboo hollows to produce compressed forms of
pu'er tea ''Pu'er'' or ''pu-erh'' is a variety of fermented tea traditionally produced in Yunnan Province, China. In the context of traditional Chinese tea production terminology, fermentation refers to microbial fermentation (called 'wet piling'), and ...
. Cooking food in bamboo is said to give the food a subtle but distinctive taste.


Fuel


Bambooworking

Bamboo was used by humans for various purposes from a very early time. Categories of bambooworking include:


Writing surface

Bamboo was in widespread use in early China as a medium for written documents. The earliest surviving examples of such documents, written in ink on string-bound bundles of bamboo strips (or "slips"), date from the fifth century BC during the
Warring States period The Warring States period () was an era in History of China#Ancient China, ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded ...
. However, references in earlier texts surviving on other media make it clear that some precursor of these Warring States period bamboo slips was in use as early as the late
Shang The Shang dynasty (), also known as the Yin dynasty (), was a Chinese royal dynasty founded by Tang of Shang (Cheng Tang) that ruled in the Yellow River valley in the second millennium BC, traditionally succeeding the Xia dynasty and f ...
period (from about 1250 BC). Bamboo or wooden strips were used as the standard writing material during the early
Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
, and excavated examples have been found in abundance. Subsequently,
paper Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distributed ...
began to displace bamboo and wooden strips from mainstream uses, and by the fourth century AD, bamboo slips had been largely abandoned as a medium for writing in China. Bamboo fiber has been used to make paper in China since early times. A high-quality, handmade bamboo paper is still produced in small quantities. Coarse bamboo paper is still used to make
spirit money Joss paper, also known as incense papers, are papercrafts or sheets of paper made into burnt offerings common in Chinese ancestral worship (such as the veneration of the deceased family members and relatives on holidays and special occasions). Wo ...
in many Chinese communities. Bamboo pulps are mainly produced in China,
Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
, Thailand, and India, and are used in
printing and writing paper Printing and writing papers are paper grades used for newspapers, magazines, catalogs, books, notebooks, commercial printing, business forms, stationeries, copying and digital printing. About 1/3 of the total pulp and paper marked (in 2000) is print ...
s. Several paper industries are surviving on bamboo forests. Ballarpur (Chandrapur, Maharstra) paper mills use bamboo for paper production. The most common bamboo species used for paper are ''
Dendrocalamus asper ''Dendrocalamus asper'', also known as giant bamboo or dragon bamboo (in China), is a giant, tropical, clumping species of bamboo native to Southeast Asia. In addition to its prolific nature across Asia, the plant's overall attractive appearance ...
'' and ''
Bambusa blumeana ''Bambusa blumeana'',J.J.Roemer & J.A.Schultes, 1830 ''In: Syst. Veg. 7: 1343'' also known as spiny bamboo or thorny bamboo, is a species of clumping bamboo occurring in Tropical Asia. This bamboo is known locally as: ''kawayang tinik'' in the P ...
''. It is also possible to make
dissolving pulp Dissolving pulp, also called dissolving cellulose, is bleached wood pulp or cotton linters that has a high cellulose content (> 90%). It has special properties including a high level of brightness and uniform molecular-weight distribution. This pul ...
from bamboo. The average fiber length is similar to hardwoods, but the properties of bamboo pulp are closer to
softwood file:Pinus sylvestris wood ray section 1 beentree.jpg, Scots Pine, a typical and well-known softwood Softwood is wood from gymnosperm trees such as conifers. The term is opposed to hardwood, which is the wood from angiosperm trees. The main diff ...
pulps due to it having a very broad fiber length distribution. With the help of molecular tools, it is now possible to distinguish the superior fiber-yielding species/varieties even at juvenile stages of their growth, which can help in unadulterated merchandise production. In Central India, there are regular bamboo working circles in forest areas of Maharashtra, Madhyapradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Most of the bamboo is harvested for
papermaking Papermaking is the manufacture of paper and cardboard, which are used widely for printing, writing, and packaging, among many other purposes. Today almost all paper is made using industrial machinery, while handmade paper survives as a speciali ...
. Bamboo is cut after three years of its germination. No cutting is done during the rainy season (July–September); broken and malformed culms are harvested first.


Writing pen

In olden times, people in India used hand-made pens (known as Kalam or boru (बोरू)) made from thin bamboo sticks (with diameters of 5–10 mm and lengths of 100–150 mm) by simply peeling them on one side and making a nib-like pattern at the end. The pen would then be dipped in ink for writing.


Textiles

Since the fibers of bamboo are very short (less than ), they are not usually transformed into yarn by a natural process. The usual process by which textiles labeled as being made of bamboo are produced uses only
rayon Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber, made from natural sources of regenerated cellulose, such as wood and related agricultural products. It has the same molecular structure as cellulose. It is also called viscose. Many types and grades of viscose f ...
made from the fibers with heavy employment of chemicals. To accomplish this, the fibers are broken down with chemicals and extruded through mechanical spinnerets; the chemicals include
lye A lye is a metal hydroxide traditionally obtained by leaching wood ashes, or a strong alkali which is highly soluble in water producing caustic basic solutions. "Lye" most commonly refers to sodium hydroxide (NaOH), but historically has been us ...
, carbon disulfide, and strong acids. Retailers have sold both end products as "bamboo fabric" to cash in on bamboo's current ecofriendly cachet; however, the Canadian
Competition Bureau The Competition Bureau (french: Bureau de la concurrence) is the competition regulator in Canada. It is an independent Canadian law enforcement agency that ensures that markets operate in a competitive, innovative manner. Headed by the Comm ...
and the US
Federal Trade Commission The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is an independent agency of the United States government whose principal mission is the enforcement of civil (non-criminal) antitrust law and the promotion of consumer protection. The FTC shares jurisdiction ov ...
, as of mid-2009, are cracking down on the practice of labeling bamboo rayon as natural bamboo fabric. Under the guidelines of both agencies, these products must be labeled as rayon with the optional qualifier "from bamboo".


= Fabric

=


Construction

Bamboo, like true
wood Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants. It is an organic materiala natural composite of cellulose fibers that are strong in tension and embedded in a matrix of lignin th ...
, is a natural
building material Building material is material used for construction. Many naturally occurring substances, such as clay, rock (geology), rocks, sand, wood, and even twigs and leaves, have been used to construct buildings. Apart from naturally occurring materia ...
with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures. In its natural form, bamboo as a construction material is traditionally associated with the cultures of South Asia, East Asia, and the South Pacific, to some extent in Central and South America, and by extension in the aesthetic of
Tiki culture Tiki culture is an American-originated art, music, and entertainment movement inspired by Polynesian, Melanesian and Micronesian cultures. Inspired by Oceanian art, influential cultures to Tiki culture include Australasia, Melanesia, Micrones ...
. In China and India, bamboo was used to hold up simple suspension bridges, either by making cables of split bamboo or twisting whole culms of sufficiently pliable bamboo together. One such bridge in the area of Qian-Xian is referenced in writings dating back to 960 AD and may have stood since as far back as the third century BC, due largely to continuous maintenance. Bamboo has also long been used as scaffolding; the practice has been banned in China for buildings over six stories, but is still in continuous use for skyscrapers in Hong Kong. In the Philippines, the nipa hut is a fairly typical example of the most basic sort of
housing Housing, or more generally, living spaces, refers to the construction and assigned usage of houses or buildings individually or collectively, for the purpose of shelter. Housing ensures that members of society have a place to live, whether it ...
where bamboo is used; the walls are split and woven bamboo, and bamboo slats and poles may be used as its support. In
Japanese architecture has been typified by wooden structures, elevated slightly off the ground, with tiled or thatched roofs. Sliding doors (''fusuma'') and other traditional partitions were used in place of walls, allowing the internal configuration of a space to ...
, bamboo is used primarily as a supplemental or decorative element in buildings such as fencing, fountains, grates, and gutters, largely due to the ready abundance of quality timber. Many ethnic groups in remote areas that have water access in Asia use bamboo that is 3–5 years old to make rafts. They use 8 to 12 poles, long, laid together side by side to a width of about . Once the poles are lined up together, they cut a hole crosswise through the poles at each end and use a small bamboo pole pushed through that hole like a screw to hold all the long bamboo poles together. Floating houses use whole bamboo stalks tied together in a big bunch to support the house floating in the water.


Fishing and aquaculture

Due to its flexibility, bamboo is also used to make
fishing rod A fishing rod is a long, thin rod used by angling, anglers to fishing, catch fish by manipulating a fishing line, line ending in a fish hook, hook (formerly known as an ''angle'', hence the term "angling"). At its most basic form, a fishing ...
s. The split cane rod is especially prized for
fly fishing Fly fishing is an angling method that uses a light-weight lure—called an artificial fly—to catch fish. The fly is cast using a fly rod, reel, and specialized weighted line. The light weight requires casting techniques significantly diffe ...
.


Firecrackers

Bamboo has been traditionally used in
Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
as a firecracker called a ''meriam buluh'' or
bamboo cannon A bamboo cannon ( ms, meriam buluh, Jawi: مريام بولوه ; tl, lantakang kawayan; , Indonesian: ''meriam bambu'', Javanese: ''mercon bumbung'') is a type of home-made firecracker which is popular during the Hari Raya festive season in ...
. Four-foot-long sections of bamboo are cut, and a mixture of water and calcium carbide are introduced. The resulting acetylene gas is ignited with a stick, producing a loud bang.


Weapons

Bamboo has often been used to construct weapons and is still incorporated in several Asian martial arts. * A bamboo staff, sometimes with one end sharpened, is used in the
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...
martial art of '' silambam'', a word derived from a term meaning "hill bamboo". * Staves used in the Indian martial art of ''
gatka Gatka (; ; hi, गतका; ur, ) is a form of martial art associated primarily with the Sikhs of the Punjab and other related ethnic groups, such as Hindkowans. It is a style of stick-fighting, with wooden sticks intended to simulate ...
'' are commonly made from bamboo, a material favoured for its light weight. * A bamboo sword called a ''
shinai A is a Japanese sword typically made of bamboo used for practice and competition in ''kendo''. ''Shinai'' are also used in other martial arts, but may be styled differently from ''kendo shinai'', and represented with different characters. T ...
'' is used in the Japanese martial art of ''
kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, descended from kenjutsu (one of the old Japanese martial arts, swordsmanship), that uses bamboo swords (shinai) as well as protective armor (bōgu). Today, it is widely practiced within Japan and has spread ...
''. * Bamboo is used for crafting the bows, called ''
yumi is the Japanese term for a bow. As used in English, refers more specifically to traditional Japanese asymmetrical bows, and includes the longer and the shorter used in the practice of and , or Japanese archery. The was an important weap ...
'', and arrows used in the Japanese martial art '' kyūdō''. * The first
gunpowder Gunpowder, also commonly known as black powder to distinguish it from modern smokeless powder, is the earliest known chemical explosive. It consists of a mixture of sulfur, carbon (in the form of charcoal) and potassium nitrate (saltpeter). ...
-based weapons, such as the fire lance, were made of bamboo. * Sharpened bamboo
javelin A javelin is a light spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon, but today predominantly for sport. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand, unlike the sling, bow, and crossbow, which launch projectiles with th ...
s weighted with sand known as '' bagakay'' were used as disposable missile weapons in both land and naval warfare in the Philippines. They were thrown in groups at a time at enemy ships or massed enemy formations. Non-disposable finely-crafted throwing spears made from bamboo weighted with sand known as '' sugob'' were also used. ''Sugob'' were mainly used for close-quarters combat and were only thrown when they could be retrieved. *Metal-tipped
blowgun A blowgun (also called a blowpipe or blow tube) is a simple ranged weapon consisting of a long narrow tube for shooting light projectiles such as darts. It operates by having the projectile placed inside the pipe and using the force created by ...
-spears called
sumpit Sumpit or sumpitan are general terms for blowguns, usually tipped with iron spearheads, used for hunting and warfare in the islands of the Philippines, Borneo, and Sulawesi. They were also known as zarbatana by the Spanish (Old Spanish variant of ...
(or sumpitan), used by various ethnic groups in the islands of the Philippines,
Borneo Borneo (; id, Kalimantan) is the third-largest island in the world and the largest in Asia. At the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia, in relation to major Indonesian islands, it is located north of Java, west of Sulawesi, and eas ...
, and
Sulawesi Sulawesi (), also known as Celebes (), is an island in Indonesia. One of the four Greater Sunda Islands, and the world's eleventh-largest island, it is situated east of Borneo, west of the Maluku Islands, and south of Mindanao and the Sulu Ar ...
, were generally made from hollowed bamboo. They used thick short darts dipped in the concentrated sap of '' Antiaris toxicaria'' which could cause lethal
cardiac arrest Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and possib ...
.


Desalination

Bamboo can be used in water desalination. A bamboo filter is used to remove the salt from seawater.


Musical instruments


Indicator of climate change

The
Song dynasty The Song dynasty (; ; 960–1279) was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the Later Zhou. The Song conquered the rest ...
(960–1279 AD) Chinese scientist and polymath Shen Kuo (1031–1095) used the evidence of underground petrified bamboo found in the dry northern climate of Yan'an, Shanbei region, Shaanxi province to support his geological theory of gradual Climate variability and change, climate change.Chan, Alan Kam-leung and Gregory K. Clancey, Hui-Chieh Loy (2002). Historical Perspectives on East Asian Science, Technology and Medicine. Singapore: Singapore University Press. . p. 15.Needham, Joseph (1986). ''Science and Civilization in China'': Volume 3, ''Mathematics and the Sciences of the Heavens and the Earth''. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd. p. 614.


Kitchenware and other usage

Bamboo is frequently used for cooking utensils within many cultures, and is used in the manufacture of chopsticks. In modern times, some see bamboo tools as an eco-friendly alternative to other manufactured utensils. Bamboo is also used to make eating utensils such as chopsticks, trays, and tea scoops. Several manufacturers offer bamboo bicycles, surfboards, snowboards, and skateboards. Bamboo has traditionally been used to make a wide range of everyday utensils and cutting board#Bamboo, cutting boards, particularly in Japan, where archaeological excavations have uncovered bamboo baskets dating to the Late Jōmon period (2000–1000 BC). Bamboo has a long history of use in Asian furniture. Chinese furniture, Chinese bamboo furniture is a distinct style based on a millennia-long tradition, and bamboo is also used for bamboo floor, floors due to its high Janka hardness test, hardness.


In culture

Several Asian cultures, including that of the Andaman Islands, believe humanity emerged from a bamboo stem.


China

Bamboo's long life makes it a Chinese symbol of uprightness and an Indian symbol of friendship. The rarity of its bamboo blossom, blossoming has led to the flowers' being regarded as a sign of impending famine. This may be due to rats feeding upon the profusion of flowers, then multiplying and destroying a large part of the local food supply. The most recent flowering began in May 2006 (see Mautam). Bamboo is said to bloom in this manner only about every 50 years (see 28–60 year examples i
FAO: 'gregarious' species table
). In Culture of China, Chinese culture, the bamboo, Prunus mume, plum blossom, orchid, and chrysanthemum (often known as ''méi lán zhú jú'' in Chinese) are collectively referred to as the Four Gentlemen. These four plants also represent the four seasons and, in Confucianism, Confucian ideology, four aspects of the ''junzi'' ("prince" or "noble one"). The pine (''sōng'' ), the bamboo (''zhú'' ), and the plum blossom (''méi'' ) are also admired for their perseverance under harsh conditions, and are together known as the "Three Friends of Winter" () in Chinese culture.


Attributions of character

Bamboo, one of the "Four Gentlemen" (bamboo, orchid, plum blossom and chrysanthemum), plays such an important role in traditional Chinese culture that it is even regarded as a behavior model of the gentleman. As bamboo has features such as uprightness, tenacity, and modesty, people endow bamboo with integrity, elegance, and plainness, though it is not physically strong. Countless poems praising bamboo written by ancient Chinese poets are actually metaphorically about people who exhibited these characteristics. An ancient poet, Bai Juyi (772–846), thought that to be a gentleman, a man does not need to be physically strong, but he must be mentally strong, upright, and perseverant. Just as a bamboo is hollow-hearted, he should open his heart to accept anything of benefit and never have arrogance or prejudice. Bamboo is not only a symbol of a gentleman, but also plays an important role in Buddhism, which was introduced into China in the first century. As canons of Buddhism forbids cruelty to animals, flesh and egg were not allowed in the diet. The tender bamboo shoot (''sǔn'' in Chinese) thus became a nutritious alternative. Preparation methods developed over thousands of years have come to be incorporated into Asian cuisines, especially for monks. A Buddhist monk, Zan Ning, wrote a manual of the bamboo shoot called ''Sǔn Pǔ'' () offering descriptions and recipes for many kinds of bamboo shoots. Bamboo shoot has always been a traditional dish on the Chinese dinner table, especially in southern China. In ancient times, those who could afford a big house with a yard would plant bamboo in their garden.


Mythology

In a Chinese legend, the Emperor Yao gave two of his daughters to the future Emperor Shun as a test for his potential to rule. Shun passed the test of being able to run his household with the two emperor's daughters as wives, and thus Yao made Shun his successor, bypassing his unworthy son. After Shun's death, the tears of his two bereaved wives fell upon the bamboos growing there explains the origin of spotted bamboo. The two women later became goddesses Xiangshuishen after drowning themselves in the Xiang River.


Japan

Bamboo is a symbol of prosperity in Japan, and are used to make Japanese New Year, New Year's decorations called ''kadomatsu''. Bamboo forests sometimes surround Jinja (Shinto), Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as part of a sacred barrier against evil. In the Japanese folktales, folktale ''Tale of the Bamboo Cutter'' (''Taketori Monogatari''), princess Kaguya emerges from a shining bamboo section. In Japan, the Chinese "Three Friends of Winter" (''kansai sanyū'') concept is traditionally used as a ranking system, where pine ( ''matsu'') is the first rank, bamboo ( ''take'') is the second rank, and plum ( ''ume'') is the third rank. This system is used in many traditional arts like with sushi sets, embroidering kimono or tiers of accommodations at traditional ''ryokan (inn), ryōkan'' taverns.


Malaysia

In
Malaysia Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
, a similar story includes a man who dreams of a beautiful woman while sleeping under a bamboo plant; he wakes up and breaks the bamboo stem, discovering the woman inside.


Philippines

In Philippine mythology, one of the more famous creation accounts tells of the first man ''Malakás'' ("Strong") and the first woman ''Maganda'' ("Beautiful") each emerging from one half of a split bamboo stem on an island formed after the battle between Sky and Ocean.


Vietnam


Attributions of character

Bamboo plays an important part of the culture of Vietnam. Bamboo symbolizes the spirit of Vovinam (a Vietnamese martial arts): ''cương nhu phối triển'' (coordination between hard and soft (martial arts)). Bamboo also symbolizes the Vietnamese hometown and Vietnamese soul: the gentlemanlike, straightforwardness, hard working, optimism, unity, and adaptability. A Vietnamese proverb says, "Tre già, măng mọc" (When the bamboo is old, the bamboo sprouts appear), the meaning being Vietnam will never be annihilated; if the previous generation dies, the children take their place. Therefore, the Vietnam nation and Vietnamese value will be maintained and developed eternally. Traditional Vietnamese villages are surrounded by thick bamboo hedges (''lũy tre''). During Ngô Đình Diệm's presidency, bamboo was the national symbol of South Vietnam, it was featured on the national coat of arms, presidential standard, and South Vietnamese đồng coins at the time.


Mythology

A bamboo cane is also the weapon of Vietnamese people, Vietnamese legendary hero, Thánh Gióng, who had grown up immediately and magically since the age of three because of his wish to liberate his land from Ân invaders. The ancient Vietnamese legend ''Cây tre trăm đốt'' (The Hundred-knot Bamboo Tree) tells of a poor, young farmer who fell in love with his landlord's beautiful daughter. The farmer asked the landlord for his daughter's hand in marriage, but the proud landlord would not allow her to be bound in marriage to a poor farmer. The landlord decided to foil the marriage with an impossible deal; the farmer must bring him a "bamboo tree of 100 plant stems, nodes". But Gautama Buddha (''Bụt'') appeared to the farmer and told him that such a tree could be made from 100 nodes from several different trees. ''Bụt'' gave to him four magic words to attach the many nodes of bamboo: ''Khắc nhập, khắc xuất'', which means "joined together immediately, fell apart immediately". The triumphant farmer returned to the landlord and demanded his daughter. Curious to see such a long bamboo, the landlord was magically joined to the bamboo when he touched it, as the young farmer said the first two magic words. The story ends with the happy marriage of the farmer and the landlord's daughter after the landlord agreed to the marriage and asked to be separated from the bamboo.


Africa


Bozo

The Bozo people, Bozo ethnic group of West Africa take their name from the Bambara language, Bambara phrase ''bo-so'', which means "bamboo house".


Saint Lucia

Bamboo is also the national plant of St. Lucia.


Hawaiian

Hawaiian Islands, Hawaiian bamboo ''('ohe)'' is a ''kinolau'' or body form of the Polynesian mythology, Polynesian creator god Kāne.


North America

Arundinaria bamboos, known as giant cane or river cane, are a central part of the material cultures of Southeastern Native American nations, so much so that they have been called "the plastic of the Southeastern Indians." Among the Cherokee, river cane has been used to make waterproof baskets, mats, fishing poles, flutes, blowguns, arrows, and to build houses, among other uses; the seed and young shoots are also edible.


See also

* Bamboo blossom * Bamboo processing machine * Bamboo torture *
Bambuseae The Bambuseae are the most diverse tribe of bamboos in the grass family (Poaceae). They consist of woody species from tropical regions, including some giant bamboos. Their sister group are the small herbaceous bamboos from the tropics in tribe Ol ...
* Ceremonial pole * Domesticated plants and animals of Austronesia * International Network for Bamboo and Rattan * List of bamboo species * Mautam * Textile#Plant textiles, Plant textiles *Table of Wood and Bamboo Mechanical and Agricultural Properties * Xiangshuishen (Xiang River goddesses)


References


Further reading

''Bamboo – The Plant and its Uses''. Part of the Tropical Forestry book series (TROPICAL, volume 10), 2015.


External links

*
Bamboo for Climate Change
by INBAR. *

{{Authority control Bamboo, Bambusoideae, Building materials Garden plants of Asia, Bamboo Garden plants of Australia, Bamboo Garden plants of North America, Bamboo Garden plants of South America, Bamboo Garden plants, Bamboo National symbols of Saint Lucia National symbols of Japan National symbols of China Rhizomatous plants Stem vegetables