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, whic ...

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 wid ...

flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, but it probably comes from the

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

language, which originally borrowed it from Malay 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 are usually hollow and the vascular bundles in the cross-section are scattered throughout the stem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement. The dicotyledonous woody

xylem Xylem is one of the two types of transport tissue in vascular plants, the other being phloem. The basic function of xylem is to transport water from roots to stems and leaves, but it also transports nutrients. The word ''xylem'' is derived from ...

is also absent. The absence of secondary growth wood causes the stems of

monocots Monocotyledons (), commonly referred to as monocots, ( Lilianae '' sensu'' Chase & Reveal) are grass and grass-like flowering plants (angiosperms), the seeds of which typically contain only one embryonic leaf, or cotyledon. They constitute one of ...

, 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-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 Marginal land is land that is of little agricultural or developmental value because crops produced from the area would be worth less than any rent paid for access to the area. Although the term ''marginal'' is often used in a subjective sense for l ...

, make bamboo a good candidate for afforestation,

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 lan ...

and climate change mitigation. 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 Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth descr ...

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 south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainlan ...

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 Geography, geographical and culture, ethno-cultural terms. The modern State (polity), states of East Asia include China, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan. ...

, being used for building materials, as a

food source Food is any substance consumed by an organism for nutritional support. Food is usually of plant, animal, or fungal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ing ...

, and as a raw product, and depicted often in arts, such as in bamboo paintings and

bambooworking Bambooworking is the activity or skill of making items from bamboo, and includes architecture, carpentry, furniture and cabinetry, carving, joinery, and weaving. Its historical roots in Asia span cultures, civilizations, and millennia, and is fou ...

. 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 ...

, 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, w ...

, and its strength is generally similar to a strong softwood or hardwood timber.

Taxonomy

Bamboos have long been considered the most primitive grasses, mostly because of the presence of bracteate, 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 The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

, and three

stigmata Stigmata ( grc, στίγματα, plural of , 'mark, spot, brand'), in Roman Catholicism, are bodily wounds, scars and pain which appear in locations corresponding to the crucifixion wounds of Jesus Christ: the hands, wrists, and feet. Sti ...

. Following more recent molecular phylogenetic 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 confli ...

and genera of grasses formerly included in the Bambusoideae are now classified in other subfamilies, e.g. the Anomochlooideae, the Puelioideae, and the Ehrhartoideae. The subfamily in its current sense belongs to the BOP clade of grasses, where it is sister to the

Pooideae The Pooideae are the largest subfamily of the grass family Poaceae, with about 4,000 species in 15 tribes and roughly 200 genera. They include some major cereals such as wheat, barley, oat, rye and many lawn and pasture grasses. They are often ...

(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 Olyreae is a tribe of grasses in the bamboo subfamily (Bambusoideae). Unlike the other two bamboo tribes, Olyreae are herbaceous and do not have a woody stem. Their sister group are the tropical woody bamboos (Bambuseae). Olyreae grow in the und ...

), tropical woody bamboos ( Bambuseae), and temperate woody bamboos ( Arundinarieae). The woody bamboos do not form a

monophyletic group A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

; 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 ''Buergersiochloa'' is a genus of New Guinean in the grass family. The only known species is ''Buergersiochloa bambusoides.'' See also *List of Poaceae genera The true grasses (Poaceae) are one of the largest plant families, with around 12, ...

*:one genus: ''

Buergersiochloa ''Buergersiochloa'' is a genus of New Guinean in the grass family. The only known species is ''Buergersiochloa bambusoides.'' See also *List of Poaceae genera The true grasses (Poaceae) are one of the largest plant families, with around 12, ...

''. *Subtribe Olyrineae *:17 genera: ''

Agnesia ''Agnesia'' is a genus of herbaceous South American bamboo in the grass family. It is named in honor of agrostologist (botanical specialist in the area of grasses) Mary Agnes Chase (1869-1963). The only known species is ''Agnesia lancifolia'', ...

'', ''

Arberella ''Arberella'' is a genus of Neotropical bamboo in the grass family. ;Species # '' Arberella bahiensis'' - Venezuela ( Amazonas), Brazil (Bahia) # '' Arberella costaricensis'' - Costa Rica # '' Arberella dressleri'' - Panama # '' Arberella flacci ...

'', ''

Cryptochloa ''Cryptochloa'' is a genus of Neotropical plants in the grass family, widespread across much of Mexico, Central America, and South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hem ...

'', ''

Diandrolyra ''Diandrolyra'' is a genus of Brazilian plants in the grass family. ;Species # '' Diandrolyra bicolor'' Stapf - Espírito Santo # '' Diandrolyra pygmaea'' Soderstr. & Zuloaga ex R.P.Oliveira & L.G.Clark - Bahia # '' Diandrolyra tatianae'' Soders ...

'', ''

Ekmanochloa ''Ekmanochloa'' is a genus of plants in the grass family endemic to Cuba. Description Its habit is a perennial grass. Culms are erect; 38–63.25–100 cm long. Culm-nodes are constricted or swollen. Leaves are differentiated into sheath ...

'', '' Froesiochloa'', ''

Lithachne ''Lithachne'' is a genus of Neotropical plants in the grass family. ;Species # '' Lithachne horizontalis'' Chase - Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Mato Grosso # '' Lithachne humilis'' Soderstr. - Honduras # '' Lithachne pauciflora'' (S ...

'', ''

Maclurolyra ''Maclurolyra'' is a genus of Neotropical plants in the grass family. The only known species is ''Maclurolyra tecta'', native to Panamá and Colombia. The genus is named in honor of Floyd Alonzo McClure Floyd Alonzo McClure (14 August 1897, S ...

'', ''

Mniochloa ''Mniochloa'' is a genus of Cuban plants in the grass family. The only known species is ''Mniochloa pulchella'', native to eastern Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country ...

'', '' Olyra'', ''

Parodiolyra ''Parodiolyra'' is a genus of Neotropical plants in the grass family. ;Species # '' Parodiolyra aratitiyopensis'' J.R.Grande - Venezuela ( Amazonas) # '' Parodiolyra colombiensis'' Davidse & Zuloaga - Colombia ( Caquetá) # ''Parodiolyra lateral ...

'', ''

Piresiella ''Piresiella'' is a genus of Cuban bamboo in the grass family.Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & Strong, M.T. (2012). Catalogue of seed plants of the West Indies. Smithsonian Contributions to Botany 98: 1-1192. The only known species is ''Piresiella streph ...

'', '' Raddia'', ''

Raddiella ''Raddiella'' is a genus of Neotropical plants in the grass family native to South America, Panama and Trinidad. ;Species # '' Raddiella esenbeckii'' (Steud.) C.E.Calderón ex Soderstr. - Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Suri ...

'', '' Rehia'', ''

Reitzia ''Reitzia'' is a genus of plants in the grass family. The only known species is ''Reitzia smithii'', native to southeastern Brazil ( Santa Catarina, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply ...

'' (syn. ''

Piresia ''Piresia'' is a genus of South American plants in the grass family. ;Species # '' Piresia goeldii'' Swallen - French Guiana, Suriname, Venezuela ( Amazonas), Colombia ( Amazonas), Ecuador, Peru ( Loreto), Brazil (Pará, Amazonas, Rondônia) # ...

''), ''

Sucrea ''Sucrea'' is a genus of Brazilian plants in the Poaceae, grass family. ;Species # ''Sucrea maculata'' Soderstr. - Rio de Janeiro (state), Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo # ''Sucrea monophylla'' Soderstr. - Bahia # †''Sucrea sampaiana'' (Hitch ...

''. *Subtribe Parianinae *:three genera: ''

Eremitis ''Eremitis'' is a genus of bamboo plants in the grass family, that is endemic to Brazil. The only known species is ''Eremitis parviflora'', native to the States of Bahia, Pernambuco, Rio de Janeiro, and Espirito Santo in eastern Brazil Br ...

'', ''

Pariana ''Pariana'' is a genus of tropical American plants in the grass family Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bambo ...

'', ''

Parianella ''Parianella'' 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, ...

''. 73 genera: * Subtribe Arthrostylidiinae: *:15 genera: '' Actinocladum'', ''

Alvimia ''Alvimia'' is a Brazilian genus of bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family. It is native to the eastern coastal regions of the State of Bahia in eastern Brazil. ;Species # ''Alvimia auriculata'' Soderstr. & Londoño # ''Alvimia gracilis'' Soderst ...

'', '' Arthrostylidium'', ''

Athroostachys ''Athroostachys'' is a Brazilian genus of bamboo in the grass family. The only known species is ''Athroostachys capitata,'' native to Brazil (States of Bahia, Mato Grosso, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro). See also * List of Poaceae genera The tr ...

'', ''

Atractantha ''Atractantha'' is a South American genus of bamboo in the grass family, native to Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela. ;Species # '' Atractantha amazonica'' Judz. & L.G.Clark - Amazonas in Brazil, Amazonas in Venezuela, Vaupés in Colombia # '' ...

'', '' Aulonemia'', ''

Cambajuva ''Cambajuva'' 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, ...

'', ''

Colanthelia ''Colanthelia'' is a genus of South American bamboo in the grass family, native to southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina. ;SpeciesSmith, L.B., D. C. Wasshausen & R.M. Klein. 1981. Gramíneas. Gêneros: 1. Bambusa até 44. Chloris. 1(GRAM): ...

'', ''

Didymogonyx ''Didymogonyx'' is a genus of South American bamboo in the grass family. ;Species # '' Didymogonyx geminatum'' (McClure) C.D.Tyrrell, L.G.Clark & Londoño - Colombia, Venezuela # '' Didymogonyx longispiculatum'' (Londoño & L.G.Clark) C.D.Tyrrel ...

'', ''

Elytrostachys ''Elytrostachys'' is a genus of bamboo (tribe (biology), tribe Bambuseae of the family (biology), family Poaceae), found in the rainforests from Honduras to Venezuela. ;Species # ''Elytrostachys clavigera'' McClure - Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicar ...

'', '' Filgueirasia'', '' Glaziophyton'', ''

Merostachys ''Merostachys'' is a Neotropical genus of bamboo in the grass family. It is found in South America and Central America from Belize to Paraguay. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Athroostachys Rhipidocladum'' * ''Merostachys capitata - Athroos ...

'', ''

Myriocladus ''Myriocladus'' is a South American genus of bamboo in the grass family. It is found in the sandstone tablelands of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and northern Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Por ...

'', ''

Rhipidocladum ''Rhipidocladum'' is a genus of New World woody bamboo in the grass family). It found in Mesoamerica, Trinidad, and South America. The genus is characterized by 1) erect, non-pseudopetiolate culm leaves, 2) numerous branchlets arising in an aspid ...

''. * Subtribe Bambusinae: *:17 genera: ''

Bambusa ''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 ...

'', '' Bonia'', '' Cochinchinochloa'', ''

Dendrocalamus ''Dendrocalamus'' is a tropical Asian genus of giant clumping bamboos in the grass family. It is found in the Indian subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia. '' Dendrocalamus giganteus'' is one of the tallest of bamboos, capable of reaching heig ...

'', ''

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 ''Gigantochloa'' is a tropical Asian and Papuasian genus of giant clumping bamboos in the grass family. It is found in southern China, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and New Guinea. ;Species ;Formerly included see ''Bambusa Dendrocal ...

'', '' Maclurochloa'', '' Melocalamus'', '' Neomicrocalamus'', '' Oreobambos'', '' Oxytenanthera'', '' Phuphanochloa'', '' Pseudoxytenanthera'', '' Soejatmia'', '' Thyrsostachys'', '' Vietnamosasa'', '' Yersinochloa''. * Subtribe Chusqueinae: *:one genus: '' Chusquea''. * Subtribe Dinochloinae: *:7 genera: ''

Cyrtochloa ''Cyrtochloa'' is a genus of Philippine bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family. Species References External links

Bambusoideae Bambusoideae genera Endemic flora of the Philippines {{Philippines-stub ...

'', ''

Dinochloa ''Dinochloa'' is a genus of tropical clumping high-climbing bamboos in the grass family. These species bear zigzag culms and fleshy fruits. They are found in the hill forests and lowland dipterocarp forest of southern China, Southeast Asia, a ...

'', ''

Mullerochloa ''Mullerochloa'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. It just contains one species, ''Mullerochloa moreheadiana'' (F.M.Bailey) K.M.Wong It is native to Queensland in north-eastern Australia. The grass forms ...

'', ''

Neololeba ''Neololeba'' is a tropical Asian, Australian, and Papuasian genus of bamboos in the grass family. ;Species * '' Neololeba amahussana'' (Lindl.) Widjaja – Ambon, Seram * '' Neololeba atra'' (Lindl.) Widjaja- Philippines, Sulawesi, Maluku, N ...

'', '' Pinga'', '' Parabambusa'', ''

Sphaerobambos ''Sphaerobambos'' is a genus of Southeast Asian bamboo, in the grass family. ;Species # '' Sphaerobambos hirsuta'' S.Dransf. - Sabah # '' Sphaerobambos philippinensis'' (Gamble) S.Dransf. - Mindanao # '' Sphaerobambos subtilis'' S.Dransf. - ...

''. * Subtribe Greslaniinae: *:one genus: '' Greslania''. * Subtribe Guaduinae: *:5 genera: '' Apoclada'', '' Eremocaulon'', '' Guadua'', '' Olmeca'', '' Otatea''. * Subtribe Hickeliinae: *:9 genera: '' Cathariostachys'', '' Decaryochloa'', '' Hickelia'', '' Hitchcockella'', '' Nastus'', '' Perrierbambus'', '' Sirochloa'', '' Sokinochloa'', ''

Valiha The valiha is a tube zither from Madagascar made from a species of local bamboo; it is considered the " national instrument" of Madagascar. The term is also used to describe a number of related zithers of differing shapes and materials. T ...

''. * Subtribe Holttumochloinae: *:3 genera: '' Holttumochloa'', ''

Kinabaluchloa ''Kinabaluchloa'' is a genus of Southeast Asian bamboos in the Poaceae, grass family. ;Species * ''Kinabaluchloa nebulosa'' K.M.Wong - Sabah, Brunei * ''Kinabaluchloa wrayi'' (Stapf) K.M.Wong - Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam References ...

'', ''

Nianhochloa ''Nianhochloa'' 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, ...

''. * Subtribe Melocanninae: *:9 genera: '' Annamocalamus'', '' Cephalostachyum'', '' Davidsea'', '' Melocanna'', '' Neohouzeaua'', '' Ochlandra'', ''

Pseudostachyum ''Pseudostachyum polymorphum'' is a monotypic Asian species of bamboo in the Poaceae, grass family.Schizostachyum'', '' Stapletonia''. * Subtribe Racemobambosinae: *:3 genera: ''

Chloothamnus 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 ...

'', ''

Racemobambos ''Racemobambos'' is a genus of bamboo (tribe Bambuseae within the Poaceae) and the sole genus of its subtribe, the Racemobambodinae. The genus is native to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Papuasia Papuasia is a Level 2 botanical region defined in ...

'', ''

Widjajachloa ''Widjajachloa'' 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 grasse ...

''. * Subtribe

Temburongiinae ''Temburongia'' is a genus of bamboo from the Sultanate of Brunei on the Island of Borneo. It is usually classified in the subtribe Subtribe is a taxonomic category ranking which is below the rank of tribe and above genus. The standard suffix ...

: *:one genus: ''

Temburongia ''Temburongia'' is a genus of bamboo from the Sultanate of Brunei on the Island of Borneo. It is usually classified in the subtribe Shibataeinae, though its exact relationship with the subtribe remains unclear. Species The only described speci ...

''. * ''

incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...

'' *:2 genera: ''

Ruhooglandia ''Ruhooglandia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. It only contains one knowns species, ''Ruhooglandia hooglandii'' (Holttum) S.Dransf. & K.M.Wong It is native to New Guinea New Guinea (; Hiri Motu ...

'', '' Temochloa''. 31 genera: '' Acidosasa'', ''

Ampelocalamus ''Ampelocalamus'' is a genus of Asian bamboo in the grass family). It is found mostly in Southern China South China () is a geographical and cultural region that covers the southernmost part of China. Its precise meaning varies with context ...

'', ''

Arundinaria ''Arundinaria'' is a genus of bamboo in the grass family the members of which are referred to generally as cane. ''Arundinaria'' is the only bamboo native to south and southeastern North America, with a native range from Maryland south to Florid ...

'', ''

Bashania ''Bashania'' is a genus of East Asian bamboo in the grass family, native to China and Vietnam. ;Species # '' Bashania abietina'' T.P.Yi & L.Yang – Sichuan # '' Bashania fansipanensis'' T.Q.Nguyen – Vietnam # '' Bashania fargesii'' (E.G.Ca ...

'', ''

Bergbambos ''Bergbambos'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Poaceae. Its native range is Southern Africa. Species: *''Bergbambos tessellata'' References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q19820200 Poaceae Poaceae genera ...

'', ''

Chimonobambusa ''Chimonobambusa'' is a genus of East Asian bamboo in the grass family. They are native to China, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Himalayas. ;Species ;formerly included see '' Ampelocalamus Bambusa Chimonocalamus Drepanostachyum Himalayaca ...

'', '' Chimonocalamus'', '' Drepanostachyum'', ''

Fargesia ''Fargesia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the grass family. These bamboos are native primarily to China, with a few species in Vietnam and in the eastern Himalayas. Some species are cultivated as ornamentals, with common names including umbr ...

'', '' Ferrocalamus'', '' Gaoligongshania'', '' Gelidocalamus'', '' Himalayacalamus'', ''

Indocalamus ''Indocalamus'' is a genus of about 35 species of flowering plants in the grass family (Poaceae), native to China, Vietnam and Japan. They are quite small evergreen bamboos normally up to in height, initially forming clumps and then spreading to ...

'', '' Indosasa'', ''

Kuruna ''Kuruna'' 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, bamb ...

'', ''

Oldeania ''Oldeania'' 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, ba ...

'', '' Oligostachyum'', ''

Phyllostachys ''Phyllostachys'' () is a genus of Asian bamboo in the grass family. Many of the species are found in central and southern China, with a few species in northern Indochina and in the Himalayas. Some of the species have become naturalized in parts ...

'', ''

Pleioblastus ''Pleioblastus'' is an East Asian genus of monopodial bamboos in the grass family Poaceae. They are native to China and Japan, and naturalized in scattered places in Korea, Europe, New Zealand, and the Western Hemisphere. The plant spreads by vi ...

'', ''

Pseudosasa ''Pseudosasa'' is a genus of East Asian bamboo in the grass family. These species are small to medium running plants, usually with one branch at a node. Its name comes from its resemblance to the genus '' Sasa''. The species are native to China, ...

'', ''

Sarocalamus ''Sarocalamus'' is a genus of Asian bamboo in the grass family. ;Species # ''Sarocalamus faberi'' (Rendle) Stapleton – Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou # ''Sarocalamus racemosus'' (Munro) Stapleton – Tibet, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Myanmar, Bhutan, ...

'', '' Sasa'', '' Sasaella'', '' Sasamorpha'', '' Semiarundinaria'', '' Shibataea'', '' Sinobambusa'', '' Thamnocalamus'', ''

Vietnamocalamus ''Vietnamocalamus'' 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 gra ...

'', '' Yushania''.

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 forests. Local farmer nearby the park

In the Asia-Pacific region they occur across East Asia, from north to 50 °N latitude in Sakhalin, to south to

northern Australia The unofficial geographic term Northern Australia includes those parts of Queensland and Western Australia north of latitude 26° and all of the Northern Territory. Those local government areas of Western Australia and Queensland that lie p ...

, 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 10 ...

. China, Japan, Korea, India and Australia, all have several endemic populations. They also occur in small numbers in sub-Saharan Africa, 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. Bamboo thickets called

canebrake A canebrake or canebreak is a thicket of any of a variety of ''Arundinaria'' grasses: '' A. gigantea'', '' A. tecta'' and '' A. appalachiana''. As a bamboo, these giant grasses grow in thickets up to 24 ft tall. ''A. gigantea'' is generally ...

s 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 The Great Lakes region of North America is a binational Canadian–American region that includes portions of the eight U.S. states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin along with the Canadian p ...

of east-central Africa, especially in Rwanda. In the United States, several companies are growing, harvesting, and distributing species such as ''

Phyllostachys nigra ''Phyllostachys nigra'', commonly known as black bamboo or purple bamboo ( zh, 紫竹), is a species of bamboo, native to Hunan Province of China, and is widely cultivated elsewhere. Growing up to tall by broad, it forms clumps of slender arc ...

'' (Henon) and ''

Phyllostachys edulis ''Phyllostachys edulis'', the bamboo, or tortoise-shell bamboo, or (), ( ja, モウソウチク), () is a temperate species of giant timber bamboo native to China and Taiwan and naturalised elsewhere, including Japan where it is widely distrib ...

'' (Moso). File:მოსო ბამბუკი.JPG, ''

Phyllostachys pubescens ''Phyllostachys edulis'', the bamboo, or tortoise-shell bamboo, or (), ( ja, モウソウチク), () is a temperate species of giant timber bamboo native to China and Taiwan and naturalised elsewhere, including Japan where it is widely distrib ...

'' in Batumi Botanical Garden File:Sagano Bamboo forest, Arashiyama, Kyoto.jpg, Bamboo forest in

Arashiyama is a district on the western outskirts of Kyoto, Japan. It also refers to the mountain across the Ōi River, which forms a backdrop to the district. Arashiyama is a nationally designated Historic Site and Place of Scenic Beauty. Notable t ...

File:Trilha do Parque Nacional da Serra dos Órgãos Sede Petrópolis.jpg, Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Brazil File:Bamboo123.jpg, Bamboo forest in KwaZulu-Natal File:Bamboo bambou bambuseae phyllostachys VAN DEN HENDE ALAIN CC-BY-SA-4 0 210520142095.jpg, Bamboo forest in Isère, France File:Bamboo forest at Rutgers University botanical gardens.JPG, Bamboo forest at the Rutgers Gardens, North Brunswick,

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

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 rhizomes, 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 Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty. Common types of dirt include: * Debri ...

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 meteorologi ...

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 The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 145 to 66 million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era, as well as the longest. At around 79 million years, it is the longest geological period of t ...

, 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 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 of three to four months. During this time, each new

shoot In botany, a plant shoot consists of any plant stem together with its appendages, leaves and lateral buds, flowering stems, and flower buds. The new growth from seed germination that grows upward is a shoot where leaves will develop. In the sp ...

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 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

PICT0079 bambus-i-blomst 13apr2007 1200-81

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 (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'' (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. A study commissioned by

International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) is an independent intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to develop and promote innovative solutions to poverty and environmental sustainability using bamboo and rattan. Histor ...

, found that invasive species typically are varieties that spread via rhizomes rather than by clumping, as most commercially viable woody bamboos do. Certain bamboos have become problematic, such as the ''

'' 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 ''

''.

Animal diet

Soft

bamboo shoot Bamboo shoots or bamboo sprouts are the edible shoots (new bamboo culms that come out of the ground) of many bamboo species including ''Bambusa vulgaris'' and ''Phyllostachys edulis''. They are used as vegetables in numerous Asian dishes and ...

s, stems and leaves are the major food source of the giant panda of China, the

red panda The red panda (''Ailurus fulgens''), also known as the lesser panda, is a small mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It has dense reddish-brown fur with a black belly and legs, white-lined ears, a mostly white muzzle ...

Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...

, and the bamboo lemurs 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 gorillas 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 separ ...

which was fermented and alcoholic;

chimpanzees The chimpanzee (''Pan troglodytes''), also known as simply the chimp, is a species of great ape native to the forest and savannah of tropical Africa. It has four confirmed subspecies and a fifth proposed subspecies. When its close relative th ...

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 ...

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 si ...

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'', a Southeast Asian moth, the larvae of which feed off bamboo and which are considered a delicacy by the local population {{Ani ...

(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'') of Laos,

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 Wells explai ...

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 b ...

and Yunnan, China feed off the pulp of live bamboo. In turn, these caterpillars are considered a local delicacy.

Cultivation

General

Harvesting

Gathering Bamboo Shoots, by Suzuki Harunobu, 1765

Bamboo used for construction purposes must be harvested when the culms reach their greatest strength and when sugar levels in the

are at their lowest, as high sugar content increases the ease and rate of pest 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, 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. 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 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 Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, refer a number of conditions caused by the hypersensitivity of the immune system to typically harmless substances in the environment. These diseases include hay fever, food allergies, atopic derm ...

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), and in some cases into swollen eyelids and breathing difficulties (dyspnoea). A

skin prick test Skin allergy testing comprises a range of methods for medical diagnosis of allergies that attempts to provoke a small, controlled, allergic response. Methods A microscopic amount of an allergen is introduced to a patient's skin by various mean ...

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 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

, 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). Khao lam87

, they are sliced thin and then boiled with ''santan'' (thick coconut milk) and spices to make a dish called '' gulai rebung''. Other recipes using bamboo shoots are '' sayur lodeh'' (mixed vegetables in coconut milk) and ''lun pia'' (sometimes written ''

lumpia ''Lumpia'' are various types of spring rolls commonly found in the Philippines and Indonesia. Lumpia are made of thin paper-like or crepe-like pastry skin called "lumpia wrapper" enveloping savory or sweet fillings. It is often served as an ap ...

'': 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 Pith, or medulla, is a tissue in the stems of vascular plants. Pith is composed of soft, spongy parenchyma cells, which in some cases can store starch. In eudicotyledons, pith is located in the center of the stem. In monocotyledons, it ext ...

of the young shoots. The sap of young stalks tapped during the rainy season may be

fermented Fermentation is a metabolic process that produces chemical changes in organic substrates through the action of enzymes. In biochemistry, it is narrowly defined as the extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen. In food p ...

to make ''ulanzi'' (a sweet wine) or simply made into a soft drink. Bamboo leaves are also used as wrappers for steamed

dumplings Dumpling is a broad class of dishes that consist of pieces of dough (made from a variety of starch sources), oftentimes wrapped around a filling. The dough can be based on bread, flour, buckwheat or potatoes, and may be filled with meat, fish ...

which usually contains glutinous rice and other ingredients, such as the

zongzi ''Zongzi'' (; ), ''rouzong'' () or simply ''zong'' (Cantonese Jyutping: ''zung2'') is a traditional Chinese rice dish made of glutinous rice stuffed with different fillings and wrapped in bamboo leaves (generally of the species ''Indocalamus t ...

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: ''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 Sambalpur () is the fifth largest city in the Indian State of Odisha. It is located on the banks of river Mahanadi, with a population of 335,761 (as per 2011 census). Prehistoric settlements have been recorded there. It is the home of the Sam ...

, India, the tender shoots are grated into juliennes and

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 Rice flour (also rice powder) is a form of flour made from finely milled rice. It is distinct from rice starch, which is usually produced by steeping rice in lye. Rice flour is a common substitute for wheat flour. It is also used as a thickening ...

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 Silig ...

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. 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

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 ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded with the Qin wars of conquest ...

. 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 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 distrib ...

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 in many Chinese communities. Bamboo pulps are mainly produced in China,

, 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) ...

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'' and '' Bambusa blumeana''. It is also possible to make dissolving pulp from bamboo. The average fiber length is similar to

hardwoods 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 ...

, but the properties of bamboo pulp are closer to softwood 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. 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 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 u ...

carbon disulfide Carbon disulfide (also spelled as carbon disulphide) is a neurotoxic, colorless, volatile liquid with the formula and structure . The compound is used frequently as a building block in organic chemistry as well as an industrial and chemical n ...

, 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 and the US Federal Trade Commission, 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

, is a natural building material 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. Lin An Tai Historical House 05

In China and India, bamboo was used to hold up

simple suspension bridge A simple suspension bridge (also rope bridge, swing bridge (in New Zealand), suspended bridge, hanging bridge and catenary bridge) is a primitive type of bridge in which the deck of the bridge lies on two parallel load-bearing cables that ar ...

s, 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. Usage of Bamboo

In the Philippines, the

nipa hut The ''bahay kubo'', also known as ''payag'' (Nipon) in the Visayan languages and, is a type of stilt house indigenous to the Philippines. It often serves as an icon of Philippine culture. The house is exclusive to the lowland population of ...

is a fairly typical example of the most basic sort of housing where bamboo is used; the walls are split and woven bamboo, and bamboo slats and poles may be used as its support. Sangat Resort in Busuanga

In Japanese architecture, 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 rods. The

split cane rod A bamboo fly rod or a split cane rod is a fly fishing fishing rod, rod that is made from bamboo. The British generally use the term "split cane." In the U.S., most use the term "bamboo." The "heyday" of bamboo fly rod production and use was an app ...

is especially prized for fly fishing.

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. Four-foot-long sections of bamboo are cut, and a mixture of water and

calcium carbide Calcium carbide, also known as calcium acetylide, is a chemical compound with the chemical formula of Ca C2. Its main use industrially is in the production of acetylene and calcium cyanamide. The pure material is colorless, while pieces of te ...

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 martial art of ''

silambam Silambam is an Indian martial art originating in South India in the Indian subcontinent. This style is mentioned in Tamil Sangam literature. The World Silambam Association is the official international body of Silambam. Origin References ...

'', a word derived from a term meaning "hill bamboo". * Staves used in the Indian martial art of '' gatka'' are commonly made from bamboo, a material favoured for its light weight. * A bamboo sword called a '' shinai'' is used in the Japanese martial art of '' kendo''. * Bamboo is used for crafting the bows, called '' yumi'', and arrows used in the Japanese martial art ''

kyūdō ''Kyūdō'' ( ja, 弓道) is the Japanese martial art of archery. Kyūdō is based on '' kyūjutsu'' ("art of archery"), which originated with the samurai class of feudal Japan. In 1919, the name of kyūjutsu was officially changed to kyūdō, a ...

''. * 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). Th ...

-based weapons, such as the

fire lance The fire lance () was a gunpowder weapon and the ancestor of modern firearms. It first appeared in 10th–12th century China and was used to great effect during the Jin-Song Wars. It began as a small pyrotechnic device attached to a polearm weap ...

, were made of bamboo. * Sharpened bamboo javelins weighted with sand known as ''

bagakay The Bagakay is an ancient Filipino people, Filipino weapon made of bamboo. It is a two pointed wooden dart type of weapon about ten inches in length thrown at an enemy at close quarters and were generally thrown five at a time increasing the possi ...

'' 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-spears called sumpit (or sumpitan), used by various ethnic groups in the islands of the Philippines, Borneo, and Sulawesi, were generally made from hollowed bamboo. They used thick short darts dipped in the concentrated sap of ''

Antiaris toxicaria ''Antiaris toxicaria'' is a tree in the mulberry and fig family, Moraceae. It is the only species currently recognized in the genus ''Antiaris''. The genus ''Antiaris'' was at one time considered to consist of several species, but is now regarded ...

'' 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 poss ...

Desalination

Bamboo can be used in

water desalination Desalination is a process that takes away mineral components from saline water. More generally, desalination refers to the removal of salts and minerals from a target substance, as in soil desalination, which is an issue for agriculture. Salt ...

. 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 A polymath ( el, πολυμαθής, , "having learned much"; la, homo universalis, "universal human") is an individual whose knowledge spans a substantial number of subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific pro ...

Shen Kuo (1031–1095) used the evidence of underground petrified bamboo found in the dry northern climate of Yan'an,

Shanbei Shaanbei () or Northern Shaanxi is the portion of China's Shaanxi province north of the Huanglong Mountain and the Meridian Ridge (the so-called "Guanzhong north mountains"), and is both a geographic as well as a cultural area. It makes up the so ...

region,

Shaanxi Shaanxi (alternatively Shensi, see § Name) is a landlocked province of China. Officially part of Northwest China, it borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi (NE, E), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichuan (SW), Gansu (W), N ...

province to support his geological theory of gradual

climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...

.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 A cutting board (or chopping board) is a durable board on which to place material for cutting. The kitchen cutting board is commonly used in preparing food; other types exist for cutting raw materials such as leather or plastic. Kitchen cutting bo ...

s, 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 bamboo furniture is a distinct style based on a millennia-long tradition, and bamboo is also used for

floors A floor is the bottom surface of a room or vehicle. Floors vary from simple dirt in a cave to many layered surfaces made with modern technology. Floors may be stone, wood, bamboo, metal or any other material that can support the expected load ...

due to its high 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 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 ''Mautâm'' is a cyclic ecological phenomenon that occurs every 48–50 years in the northeastern Indian states of Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur, as well as in many places of Assam which are 30% covered by wild bamboo forests, and Chin State in ...

). Bamboo is said to bloom in this manner only about every 50 years (see 28–60 year examples i
FAO: 'gregarious' species table
). In Chinese culture, the bamboo, plum blossom, orchid, and chrysanthemum (often known as ''méi lán zhú jú'' in Chinese) are collectively referred to as the

Four Gentlemen In Chinese art, the Four Gentlemen or Four Noble Ones (), literally meaning "Four Junzi", is a collective term referring to four plants: the plum blossom, the orchid, the bamboo, and the chrysanthemum. The term compares the four plants to Confuci ...

. These four plants also represent the four seasons and, in Confucian ideology, four aspects of the ''

junzi A junzi ( or "Son of the Monarch") is a Chinese philosophical term often translated as "gentleman," "superior person",Sometimes "exemplary person". Paul R. Goldin translates it "noble man" in an attempt to capture both its early political and la ...

'' ("prince" or "noble one"). The

pine A pine is any conifer tree or shrub in the genus ''Pinus'' () of the family Pinaceae. ''Pinus'' is the sole genus in the subfamily Pinoideae. The World Flora Online created by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden accepts ...

(''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 The Three Friends of Winter is an art motif that comprises the pine, bamboo, and plum. . The Chinese celebrated the pine, bamboo and plum together, as they observed that these plants do not wither as the cold days deepen into the winter season ...

" () in Chinese culture.

Attributions of character

Bamboo, one of the "

" (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 Emperor Yao (; traditionally c. 2356 – 2255 BCE) was a legendary Chinese ruler, according to various sources, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors. Ancestry and early life Yao's ancestral name is Yi Qi () or Qi (), clan name i ...

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 The Xiang River is the chief river of the Dongting Lake, Lake Dongting Drainage basin, drainage system of the middle Yangtze, the largest river in Hunan, Hunan Province, China. It is the 2nd largest tributary (after Min River (Sichuan), Min River ...

Japan

Bamboo is a symbol of prosperity in Japan, and are used to make New Year's decorations called ''

kadomatsu are traditional Japanese decorations made for the New Year's. They are a type of '' yorishiro'', or objects intended to welcome ancestral spirits or ''kami'' of the harvest. ''Kadomatsu'' are usually placed in pairs in front of homes and buil ...

''. Bamboo forests sometimes surround Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as part of a sacred barrier against

evil Evil, in a general sense, is defined as the opposite or absence of good. It can be an extremely broad concept, although in everyday usage it is often more narrowly used to talk about profound wickedness and against common good. It is general ...

. In the folktale ''

Tale of the Bamboo Cutter is a (fictional prose narrative) containing elements of Japanese folklore. Written by an unknown author in the late 9th or early 10th century during the Heian period, it is considered the oldest surviving work in the form. The story detail ...

'' (''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 is a Japanese dish of prepared , usually with some sugar and salt, accompanied by a variety of , such as seafood, often raw, and vegetables. Styles of sushi and its presentation vary widely, but the one key ingredient is "sushi rice," also ...

sets, embroidering kimono or tiers of accommodations at traditional ''

ryōkan (1758 – 6 January 1831) was a quiet and unconventional Sōtō Zen Buddhist monk who lived much of his life as a hermit. Ryōkan is remembered for his poetry and calligraphy, which present the essence of Zen life. He is also known by the name ...

'' taverns.

Malaysia

, 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 Vovinam (short for ''Võ Việt Nam''; literally meaning Vietnamese Martial Arts, or vi, Việt Võ Đạo (越武道), meaning Vietnamese Way of Martial Arts) is a Vietnamese martial art, It was founded in 1938 by Nguyễn Lộc. It is based ...

(a Vietnamese martial arts): ''cương nhu phối triển'' (coordination between

hard and soft (martial arts) In martial arts, the terms hard and soft technique denote how forcefully a defender martial artist counters the force of an attack in armed and unarmed combat. In the East Asian martial arts, the corresponding hard technique and soft technique te ...

). 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 Vietnamese may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Vietnam, a country in Southeast Asia ** A citizen of Vietnam. See Demographics of Vietnam. * Vietnamese people, or Kinh people, a Southeast Asian ethnic group native to Vietnam ** Overse ...

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 The Hundred-knot Bamboo Tree (also The Bamboo of 100 Joints) ( vi, Cây tre trăm đốt) is a Vietnamese fable and parable, Vietnamese fairy tale and part of Vietnamese oral tradition. The story is included in anthologies of Vietnamese stories. ...

) 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 nodes". But

Gautama Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist tradition, he was born in Lu ...

(''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 ethnic group of

West Africa West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, M ...

take their name from the Bambara phrase ''bo-so'', which means "bamboo house".

Saint Lucia

Bamboo is also the national plant of St. Lucia.

Hawaiian

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

North America

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 The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...

, 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.

References

External links

*
Bamboo for Climate Change
by INBAR. *

{{Authority control Building materials Bamboo Bamboo Bamboo Bamboo Bamboo National symbols of Saint Lucia National symbols of Japan National symbols of China Rhizomatous plants Stem vegetables

Taxonomy

Distribution

Ecology

Mass flowering

Invasive species

Animal diet

Cultivation

General

Harvesting

Leaching

Toxicity

Uses

Culinary

Fuel

Bambooworking

Writing surface

Writing pen

Textiles

= Fabric

Construction

Fishing and aquaculture

Firecrackers

Weapons

Desalination

Musical instruments

Indicator of climate change

Kitchenware and other usage

In culture

China

Attributions of character

Mythology

Japan

Malaysia

Philippines

Vietnam

Attributions of character

Mythology

Africa

Bozo

Saint Lucia

Hawaiian

North America

See also

References

Further reading

External links