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Bamboo - Wikipedia
Bamboo - Wikipedia
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1Taxonomy
2Distribution
3Ecology
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3.1Mass flowering
3.2Invasive species
3.3Animal diet
4Cultivation
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4.1General
4.2Harvesting
4.3Leaching
5Toxicity
6Uses
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6.1Culinary
6.2Fuel
6.3Working
6.3.1Writing surface
6.3.2Writing pen
6.3.3Textiles
6.3.3.1Fabric
6.3.4Construction
6.3.5Fishing and aquaculture
6.3.6Firecrackers
6.3.7Weapons
6.3.8Desalination
6.3.9Musical instruments
6.3.10Indicator of climate change
6.3.11Kitchenware and other usage
7In culture
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7.1China
7.1.1Attributions of character
7.1.2Mythology
7.2Japan
7.3Malaysia
7.4Philippines
7.5Vietnam
7.5.1Attributions of character
7.5.2Mythology
7.6Africa
7.6.1Tanzania
7.6.2Bozo
7.7Saint Lucia
7.8Hawaiian
7.9North America
8See also
9References
10Further reading
11External links
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Bamboo
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Subfamily of flowering plants in the grass family Poaceae
For other uses, see Bamboo (disambiguation).
BambooTemporal range: 55–0 Ma
PreꞒ
Ꞓ
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Early Eocene – Present
Bamboo forest in Hunan, China
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
Clade:
Tracheophytes
Clade:
Angiosperms
Clade:
Monocots
Clade:
Commelinids
Order:
Poales
Family:
Poaceae
Clade:
BOP clade
Subfamily:
BambusoideaeLuerss.
Tribes
Arundinarieae
Bambuseae
Olyreae
Diversity[1]
>1,462 (known species) species in 115 genera
Synonyms[2]
Olyroideae Pilg. (1956)
Parianoideae Butzin (1965)
Bamboo"Bamboo" in ancient seal script (top) and regular script (bottom) Chinese charactersChinese nameChinese竹TranscriptionsStandard MandarinHanyu PinyinzhúWade–Gileschu2IPA[ʈʂǔ]WuRomanizationtzoqYue: CantoneseYale RomanizationjūkJyutpingzuk1IPA[tsok̚˥]Southern MinTâi-lôtikVietnamese nameVietnamese alphabettreChữ Nôm椥Korean nameHangul대나무TranscriptionsRevised RomanizationdaenamuJapanese nameKanji竹TranscriptionsRomanizationtake
Bamboos are a diverse group of mostly evergreen perennial flowering plants making up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae.[3][4][5] Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family, in the case of Dendrocalamus sinicus individual culms reaching a length of 46 meters, up to 36 centimeters in thickness and a weight of up to 450 kilograms.[6] The internodes of bamboos can also be of great length. Kinabaluchloa wrayi has internodes up to 2.5 meters in length.[7] and Arthrostylidium schomburgkii with lower internodes up to 5 meters in length,[8] exceeded in length only by papyrus. By contrast, the culms of the tiny bamboo Raddiella vanessiae of the savannas of French Guiana are only 10–20 millimeters in length by about two millimeters in width.[9] The origin of the word "bamboo" is uncertain, but it probably comes from the Dutch or Portuguese language, which originally borrowed it from Malay or Kannada.[5][10][11]
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 walls of the culm instead of in a cylindrical cambium layer between the bark (phloem) and the wood (xylem) as in dicots and conifers. The dicotyledonous woody xylem is also absent. The absence of secondary growth wood causes the stems of monocots, including the palms and large bamboos, to be columnar rather than tapering.[12]
Bamboos include some of the fastest-growing plants in the world,[13] due to a unique rhizome-dependent system. Certain species of bamboo can grow 91 centimetres (36 inches) within a 24-hour period, at a rate of almost 40 millimeters (1+1⁄2 in) an hour (equivalent to 1 mm every 90 seconds).[14] Growth up to 120 centimeters (47.6 inches) in 24 hours has been observed in the instance of Japanese giant timber bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides).[15] This rapid growth and tolerance for marginal land, make bamboo a good candidate for afforestation, carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation.[16][17][18]
Bamboo is versatile and has notable economic and cultural significance in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a raw product, and depicted often in arts, such as in bamboo paintings and bambooworking. Bamboo, like wood, is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures.[19] Bamboo's strength-to-weight ratio is similar to timber, and its strength is generally similar to a strong softwood or hardwood timber.[20][21] Some bamboo species have displayed remarkable strength under test conditions. Bambusa tulda of Bangladesh and adjoining India has tested as high as 60,000 psi (400 MPa) in tensile strength.[22] Other bamboo species make extraordinarily hard material. Bambusa tabacaria of China contains so much silica that it will make sparks when struck by an axe.[23]
Taxonomy[edit]
BOP clade
Bambusoideae
Bambuseae (tropical woody bamboos)
Olyreae (herbaceous bamboos)
Arundinarieae (temperate woody bamboos)
Pooideae
Oryzoideae
Phylogeny of the bamboo within the BOP clade of grasses, as suggested by analyses of the whole of Poaceae[24] and of the bamboos in particular.[1]
Bamboos have long been considered the most basal grass genera, mostly because of the presence of bracteate, indeterminate inflorescences, "pseudospikelets", and flowers with three lodicules, six stamens, and three stigmata.[25] Following more recent molecular phylogenetic research, many tribes 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 (bluegrasses and relatives).[24]
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), and temperate woody bamboos (Arundinarieae).[26][5] The woody bamboos do not form a monophyletic group; instead, the tropical woody and herbaceous bamboos are sister to the temperate woody bamboos.[1][24] Altogether, more than 1,400 species are placed in 115 genera.[1]
Tribe Olyreae (herbaceous bamboos)
21 genera:
Subtribe Buergersiochloinae
one genus: Buergersiochloa.
Subtribe Olyrineae
17 genera: Agnesia, Arberella, Cryptochloa, Diandrolyra, Ekmanochloa, Froesiochloa, Lithachne, Maclurolyra, Mniochloa, Olyra, Parodiolyra, Piresiella, Raddia, Raddiella, Rehia, Reitzia (syn. Piresia), Sucrea.
Subtribe Parianinae
three genera: Eremitis, Pariana, Parianella.
Tribe Bambuseae (tropical woody bamboos)
73 genera:
Subtribe Arthrostylidiinae:
15 genera: Actinocladum, Alvimia, Arthrostylidium, Athroostachys, Atractantha, Aulonemia, Cambajuva, Colanthelia, Didymogonyx, Elytrostachys, Filgueirasia, Glaziophyton, Merostachys, Myriocladus, Rhipidocladum.
Subtribe Bambusinae:
17 genera: Bambusa, Bonia, Cochinchinochloa, Dendrocalamus, Fimbribambusa, Gigantochloa, Maclurochloa, Melocalamus, Neomicrocalamus, Oreobambos, Oxytenanthera, Phuphanochloa, Pseudoxytenanthera, Soejatmia, Thyrsostachys, Vietnamosasa, Yersinochloa.
Subtribe Chusqueinae:
one genus: Chusquea.
Subtribe Dinochloinae:
7 genera: Cyrtochloa, Dinochloa, Mullerochloa, Neololeba, Pinga, Parabambusa, Sphaerobambos.
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.
Subtribe Holttumochloinae:
3 genera: Holttumochloa, Kinabaluchloa, Nianhochloa.
Subtribe Melocanninae:
9 genera: Annamocalamus, Cephalostachyum, Davidsea, Melocanna, Neohouzeaua, Ochlandra, Pseudostachyum, Schizostachyum, Stapletonia.
Subtribe Racemobambosinae:
3 genera: Chloothamnus, Racemobambos, Widjajachloa.
Subtribe Temburongiinae:
one genus: Temburongia.
incertae sedis
2 genera: Ruhooglandia, Temochloa.
Tribe Arundinarieae (temperate woody bamboos)
31 genera: Acidosasa, Ampelocalamus, Arundinaria, Bashania, Bergbambos, Chimonobambusa, Chimonocalamus, Drepanostachyum, Fargesia, Ferrocalamus, Gaoligongshania, Gelidocalamus, Himalayacalamus, Indocalamus, Indosasa, Kuruna, Oldeania, Oligostachyum, Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus, Pseudosasa, Sarocalamus, Sasa, Sasaella, Sasamorpha, Semiarundinaria, Shibataea, Sinobambusa, Thamnocalamus, Vietnamocalamus, Yushania.
Distribution[edit]
Worldwide distribution of bamboos (Bambusoideae)
Most bamboo species are native to warm and moist tropical and to warm temperate climates.[27] Their range also extends to cool mountainous regions and highland cloud forests.
In the Asia-Pacific region they occur across East Asia, from north to 50 °N latitude in Sakhalin,[28] to south to northern Australia, and west to India and the Himalayas. China, Japan, Korea, India and Australia, all have several endemic populations.[29] 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.[30] In the Americas, bamboo has a native range from 47 °S in southern Argentina and the beech forests of central Chile, through the South American tropical rainforests, to the Andes in Ecuador near 4,300 m (14,000 ft), with a noticeable gap through the Atacama Desert.
Three species of bamboo, all in the genus Arundinaria, are also native through Central America and Mexico, northward into the Southeastern United States.[31] 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.[32][33][34] Canada and continental Europe are not known to have any native species of bamboo.[35] Many species are also cultivated as garden plants outside of this range, including in Europe and areas of North America where no native wild bamboo exists.
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.[36] In the United States, several companies are growing, harvesting, and distributing species such as Phyllostachys nigra (Henon) and Phyllostachys edulis (Moso).[37]
Bamboo forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Brazil
Bamboo forest in Guangde, China
Bamboo forest, Gochangupseong Fortress, South Korea
Arundinaria gigantea, a North American bamboo, in Kentucky
Panoramic view of bamboo forest in Hawaii
Ecology[edit]
Bamboo canopy
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 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 the species, soil and climate conditions. Some send out runners of several meters a year, while others 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 910 mm (36 in) in 24 hours.[14] These depend 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 30–100 mm (1–4 in) 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 grow over 30 m (100 ft) tall, and be as large as 250–300 mm (10–12 in) in diameter. The size range for mature bamboo is species-dependent, with the smallest bamboos reaching only several inches high at maturity. A typical height range covering many of the common bamboos grown in the United States is 4.5–12 m (15–39 ft), 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 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.[citation needed] 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 survive temperatures as low as −29 °C (−20 °F). Some of the hardiest bamboo species are grown in USDA plant hardiness zone 5,[citation needed] 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[edit]
Further information: Bamboo blossom
Flowering bamboo
Phyllostachys glauca 'Yunzhu' in flowerBunches of bamboo seeds
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 120 years, and it is for the species Phyllostachys bambusoides (Sieb. & Zucc.).[38] 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.[39] The commercially important bamboo Guadua, or Cana brava (Guadua angustifolia) bloomed for the first time in recorded history in 1971, suggesting a blooming interval well in excess of 130 years.[citation needed] 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.[40] This mechanism, as well as the evolutionary cause behind it, is still largely a mystery.
Invasive species[edit]
Some bamboo species are acknowledged as having high potential for becoming invasive species. A study commissioned by International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation, found that invasive species typically are varieties that spread via rhizomes rather than by clumping, as most commercially viable woody bamboos do.[41] In the United States, the National Invasive Species Information Center agency of the Department of Agriculture has Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea) listed as an invasive species.[42]
Animal diet[edit]
Bamboo is the main food of the giant panda, making up about 99% of its vegetarian diet.[43]
Bamboo contains large amounts of protein and very low amounts of carbohydrates allowing this plant to be the source of food for many animals.[44] Soft bamboo shoots, stems and leaves are the major food source of the giant panda[45] of China, the red panda[46] of Nepal, and the bamboo lemurs of Madagascar.[47] The red panda can eat up to 9 pounds (4.1 kg) a day which is also about the full body weight of the animal.[47] With raw bamboo containing trace amounts of harmful cyanide with higher concentrations in bamboo shoots, the golden bamboo lemur ingests many times the quantity of the taxiphyllin-containing bamboo that would be lethal to a human.[47]
Mountain gorillas of Central Africa also feed on bamboo, and have been documented consuming bamboo sap which was fermented and alcoholic;[30] chimpanzees and elephants of the region also eat the stalks. The larvae of the bamboo borer (the moth Omphisa fuscidentalis) of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Yunnan, China feed off the pulp of live bamboo. In turn, these caterpillars are considered a local delicacy. Bamboo is also used for livestock feed with research showing some bamboo varieties have higher protein content over other varieties of bamboo.[48]
Cultivation[edit]
Bamboo foliage with yellow stems (probably Phyllostachys aurea)Bamboo foliage with black stems (probably Phyllostachys nigra)A young bamboo shoot (Phyllostachys parvifolia)A bamboo hedge contained by an in-ground barrier, shown during and after construction
General[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Bamboo cultivation.[edit]
African Bamboo Product Innovation Lab where bamboo farming techniques and industrial uses are tested inside the company's facility in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bamboo forestry (also known as bamboo farming, cultivation, agriculture or agroforestry) is a cultivation and raw material industry that provides the raw materials for the broader bamboo industry, worth over 72 billion dollars globally in 2019.[49]
Historically a dominant raw material in South and South East Asia, the global bamboo industry has significantly grown in recent decades in part because of the high sustainability of bamboo as compared to other biomass cultivation strategies, such as traditional timber forestry. For example, as of 2016, the U.S. Fiber corporation Resource Fiber is contracting farmers in the United States for bamboo cultivation.[50][49] Or in 2009, United Nations Industrial Development Organization published guidelines for cultivation of bamboo in semi-arid climates in Ethiopia and Kenya.[51]
Because bamboo can grow on otherwise marginal land, bamboo can be profitably cultivated in many degraded lands.[52][53] Moreover, because of the rapid growth, bamboo is an effective climate change mitigation and carbon sequestration crop, absorbing between 100 and 400 tonnes of carbon per hectare.[54][55] In 1997, an international intergovernmental organization was established to promote the development of bamboo cultivation, the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation.[56]
Bamboo is harvested from both cultivated and wild stands, and some of the larger bamboos, particularly species in the genus Phyllostachys, are known as "timber bamboos". Bamboo is typically harvested as a source material for construction, food, crafts and other manufactured goods.[57]
Bamboo cultivation in South, South East Asia and East Asia stretches back thousands of years. One practice, in South Korea, has been designated as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems.[citation needed]
In Brazil, the Brazilian Center for Innovation and Sustainability - CEBIS, a non-profit organization, promotes the development of Brazil's bamboo production chain. Last year[when?], it helped with the approval of law n~21,162 in the state of Paraná, which encourages Bamboo Culture aiming at the dissemination of its agricultural cultivation and the valorization of bamboo as an instrument for promoting the sustainable socioeconomic development of the State through its multiple functionalities. Bamboo cultivation neutralizes carbon emissions. Bamboo cultivation is cheap and in addition to adding value to its production chain, it is a sustainable crop that brings environmental, economic and social benefits. Its production can be used from construction to food. Recently, it was qualified and classified for the National Commission for Sustainable Development Objectives - CNDOS of the Presidency of the Republic of the federal government of Brazil.
Harvesting[edit]
Bamboo harvested at Murshidabad
Harvested bamboo transported by river near Ramsai, Jalpaiguri
Bamboo used for construction purposes must be harvested when the culms reach their greatest strength and when sugar levels in the sap 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.[58]
Harvesting of bamboo is typically undertaken according to these cycles:
Lifecycle of the culm: As each individual culm goes through a five to seven-year lifecycle, they 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.[59][60]
Annual cycle: Most all growth of new bamboo occurs during the wet season and disturbing the clump during this phase will potentially damage the upcoming crop, while harvesting immediately prior to the wet/growth season may also damage new shoots, therefore harvesting is best a few months prior to the start of the wet season.[61] Also during this high-rainfall period, sap levels are at their highest, and then diminish towards the dry season.[62]
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 and many traditional practitioners believe the best time to harvest is at dawn or dusk on a waning moon.[63]
Leaching[edit]
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 post-harvest 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.[64]
Toxicity[edit]
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), 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.[65][66][67] The shoots (newly emerged culms) of bamboo contain the toxin taxiphyllin (a cyanogenic glycoside), which produces cyanide in the gut.[68]
Uses[edit]
Culinary[edit]
Unprocessed bamboo shoots in a Japanese market
Korean bamboo tea
The shoots of most species are edible either raw or cooked, with the tough sheath removed. Cooking removes the slight bitterness.[69] 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, India, for example, it is called khorisa.[70] In Nepal, 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 (alu tama[71] (आलु तामा) in Nepali).
In Indonesia, 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: 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)[72] or simply made into a soft drink.[73] Bamboo leaves are also used as wrappers for steamed dumplings which usually contains glutinous rice and other ingredients, such as the zongzi from China.
Khao lam (Thai: ข้าวหลาม) is glutinous rice with sugar and coconut cream cooked in specially prepared bamboo sections of different diameters and lengths
Pickled bamboo shoots (Nepali: तामा tama) 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 (Nepali: निगालो Nigalo) 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.[74] 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 East Timor, cooking food in bamboo is called tukir.
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.[75] The seeds can be pulverized into a flour with which to make cakes.[69]
The Indian state of Sikkim has promoted bamboo water bottles to keep the state free from plastic bottles[76]
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[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Bamboo charcoal.[edit]
Bamboo charcoal
Bamboo charcoal is charcoal made from species of bamboo. Bamboo charcoal is typically made from the culms or refuse of mature bamboo plants and burned in ovens at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1200 °C. It is an especially porous charcoal, making it useful in the manufacture of activated carbon.[77]
Bamboo charcoal has a long history of use in China, with documents dating as early as 1486 during the Ming dynasty in Chuzhou.[78] There is also mention of it during the Qing dynasty, during the reigns of emperors Kangxi, Qianlong, and Guangxu.[79]
Working[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Bambooworking.[edit]
Bamboo
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 found across East, South, and Southeast Asia.
Writing surface[edit]
Further information: Bamboo and wooden slips
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. References in earlier texts surviving on other media indicate some precursor of these Warring States period bamboo slips was used 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, and excavated examples have been found in abundance.[80] Subsequently, paper 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.[81]
Bamboo pulps are mainly produced in China, Myanmar, Thailand, and India, and are used in printing and writing papers.[82] 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, but the properties of bamboo pulp are closer to softwood pulps due to it having a very broad fiber length distribution.[82] 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.[83]
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.[84]
Writing pen[edit]
Main article: Reed 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.[85]
Textiles[edit]
Since the fibers of bamboo are very short (less than 3 mm or 1⁄8 in), 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, carbon disulfide, and strong acids.[86] Retailers have sold both end products as "bamboo fabric" to cash in on bamboo's current ecofriendly cachet. The Canadian Competition Bureau[87] and the US Federal Trade Commission,[88] 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".[88]
Fabric[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Bamboo textile.[edit]
A scarf made of bamboo yarn and synthetic ribbon
Bamboo textile is any cloth, yarn or clothing made from bamboo fibres. While historically used only for structural elements, such as bustles and the ribs of corsets, in recent years different technologies have been developed that allow bamboo fibre to be used for a wide range of textile and fashion applications.
Examples include clothing such as shirt tops, pants, and socks for adults and children, as well as bedding[89] such as sheets and pillow covers. Bamboo yarn can also be blended with other textile fibres, such as hemp or spandex. Bamboo is an alternative to plastic that is renewable and can be replenished at a fast rate.
Modern clothing labeled as being made from bamboo is usually viscose rayon, a fiber made by dissolving the cellulose in the bamboo, and then extruding it to form fibres. This process removes the natural characteristics of bamboo fibre, rendering it identical to rayon from other cellulose sources.
Construction[edit]
Further information: Bamboo construction
Bamboo-style barred window in Lin An Tai Historical House, Taipei
Bamboo, like true wood, is a natural building material with a high strength-to-weight ratio useful for structures.[19] 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.
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.[citation needed][90]
Bamboo has long been used as an assembly material in Hong Kong because of its versatility
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.[91]
A modern resort guesthouse in Palawan, Philippines, with traditional woven bamboo walls (sawali)
In the Philippines, the nipa hut 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.
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.[92]
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, 6–7 m (20–23 ft) long, laid together side by side to a width of about 1 m (3 ft). 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[edit]
Bamboo trays used in mussel farming (Abucay, Bataan, Philippines)
Due to its flexibility, bamboo is also used to make fishing rods. The split cane rod is especially prized for fly fishing.
Firecrackers[edit]
Bamboo has been traditionally used in Malaysia 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 are introduced. The resulting acetylene gas is ignited with a stick, producing a loud bang.
Weapons[edit]
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, 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.
The first gunpowder-based weapons, such as the fire lance, were made of bamboo.
Sharpened bamboo javelins 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.[93][94]
Metal-tipped blowgun-spear 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 which could cause lethal cardiac arrest.[95][96]
The simple sharpened bamboo spear, known as bambu runcing (literally 'sharp bamboo' or 'pointed bamboo'), is a legendary symbol of Indonesian revolutionary spirit, embodying the will of the Indonesian people, who were often ill-equipped, to fight for independence against the Dutch occupation who held air- and naval supremacy along with Commonwealth aid.[citation needed]
Punji Sticks are stakes of sharpened bamboo typically used in area denial and booby traps. Punji sticks were widely used in the Vietnam War by the Viet Cong.
Desalination[edit]
Bamboo can be used in water desalination. A bamboo filter is used to remove the salt from seawater.[97][dubious – discuss]
Musical instruments[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Bamboo musical instruments.[edit]
Wind instruments made of bamboo played by students in Talaud, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.
An example of a slit drum or scraper from the Philippines known as a kagul by the Maguindanaon people[98]
Bamboo's natural hollow form makes it an obvious choice for many musical instruments. In South and South East Asia, traditional uses of bamboo the instrument include various types of woodwind instruments, such as flutes, and devices like xylophones and organs, which require resonating sections. In some traditional instruments bamboo is the primary material, while others combine bamboo with other materials such as wood and leather.
Indicator of climate change[edit]
The Song dynasty (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 change.[99][100]
Kitchenware and other usage[edit]
Bamboo cooking utensils
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.[101][102]
Bamboo has traditionally been used to make a wide range of everyday utensils and cutting boards, particularly in Japan,[103] where archaeological excavations have uncovered bamboo baskets dating to the Late Jōmon period (2000–1000 BC).[104] Bamboo also 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 due to its high hardness.[105]
In culture[edit]
Several Asian cultures, including that of the Andaman Islands, believe humanity emerged from a bamboo stem.
China[edit]
Bamboo, by Xu Wei, Ming Dynasty.
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). Various bamboo species bloom in this manner about every 28–60 years.[106]
In Chinese culture, the bamboo, plum blossom, orchid, and chrysanthemum (often known as méi lán zhú jú 梅蘭竹菊 in Chinese) are collectively referred to as the Four Gentlemen. These four plants also represent the four seasons and, in Confucian ideology, four aspects of the junzi ("prince" or "noble one"). The pine (sōng 松), the bamboo (zhú 竹), and the plum blossom (méi 梅) are also admired for their perseverance under harsh conditions, and are together known as the "Three Friends of Winter" (歲寒三友; suìhán sānyǒu) in Chinese culture.
Attributions of character[edit]
A cylindrical bamboo brush holder or holder of poems on scrolls, created by Zhang Xihuang in the 17th century, late Ming or early Qing Dynasty – in the calligraphy of Zhang's style, the poem Returning to My Farm in the Field by the fourth-century poet Tao Yuanming is incised on the holder.
Photo of carved Chinese bamboo wall vase. 1918. Brooklyn Museum Archives, Goodyear Archival Collection.
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 筍 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 (筍譜) offering descriptions and recipes for many kinds of bamboo shoots.[107] 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[edit]
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[edit]
Bamboo kadomatsu made for Japanese New Year
Bamboo is a symbol of prosperity in Japan, and are used to make New Year's decorations called kadomatsu. Bamboo forests sometimes surround Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as part of a sacred barrier against evil. In the 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 (松 matsu) is the first rank, bamboo (竹 take) is the second rank, and plum (梅 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 ryōkan taverns.
Malaysia[edit]
In 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[edit]
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[edit]
Cây nêu - A Vietnamese New Year tree made from bamboo
Attributions of character[edit]
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[edit]
A bamboo cane is also the weapon of 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 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[edit]
Tanzania[edit]
Tanzania possesses a large diversity of bamboo species.[108][17]
Bozo[edit]
The Bozo ethnic group of West Africa take their name from the Bambara phrase bo-so, which means "bamboo house".
Saint Lucia[edit]
Bamboo is also the national plant of St. Lucia.
Hawaiian[edit]
Hawaiian bamboo ('ohe) is a kinolau or body form of the Polynesian creator god Kāne.
North America[edit]
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."[109] 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.[110][111] Traditional Cherokee double-woven baskets, crafted from river cane that has been split and dyed in various colors, are sometimes considered among the finest in the world. Since the North American bamboos are now rare, with 98% of their original extent eliminated, the Cherokee have initiated an effort to restore it.[112]
See also[edit]
List of bamboo species
Bambuseae
Bamboo blossom
International Network for Bamboo and Rattan
Bamboo construction
Bamboo textile
Bamboo processing machine
Ceremonial pole
Mautam
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^ "River Cane" (PDF). cherokee.org. Cherokee Nation.
^ Andrea L. Rogers (2023). "28". In Hoagland, Serra J.; Albert, Steven (eds.). Wildlife Stewardship on Tribal Lands. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 309–311.
Further reading[edit]
Bamboo – The Plant and its Uses. Part of the Tropical Forestry book series (TROPICAL, volume 10), 2015.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bambusoideae.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Bamboo.
Wikispecies has information related to Bambusoideae.
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Bamboo" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Bamboo for Climate Change by INBAR.
Bamboo Structural Design ISO Standards
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Taxon identifiersBambusoideae
Wikidata: Q670887
Wikispecies: Bambusoideae
APNI: 158556
BioLib: 62951
BOLD: 122377
EoL: 56959354
GBIF: 113642445
GRIN: 1465
iNaturalist: 201656
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Bamboo | Characteristics, Distribution & Uses | Britannica
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Also known as: Bambusoideae
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bamboo
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Related Topics:
Arundinaria
Bambusa bambos
Dendrocalamus strictus
giant cane
fibre
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Study the properties of bamboo as a structural material in an analogous way to wood productsLearn about the properties of bamboo as a structural material.(more)See all videos for this articlebamboo, (subfamily Bambusoideae), subfamily of tall treelike grasses of the family Poaceae, comprising more than 115 genera and 1,400 species. Bamboos are distributed in tropical and subtropical to mild temperate regions, with the heaviest concentration and largest number of species in East and Southeast Asia and on islands of the Indian and Pacific oceans. A few species of the genus Arundinaria are native to the southern United States, where they form dense canebrakes along riverbanks and in marshy areas.Bamboos are typically fast-growing perennials, with some species growing as much as 30 cm (1 foot) per day. The woody ringed stems, known as culms, are typically hollow between the rings (nodes) and grow in branching clusters from a thick rhizome (underground stem). Bamboo culms can attain heights ranging from 10 to 15 cm (about 4 to 6 inches) in the smallest species to more than 40 metres (about 130 feet) in the largest. While the narrow leaves on young culms usually arise directly from the stem rings, mature culms often sprout horizontal leaf-bearing branches. Most bamboos flower and produce seeds only after 12–120 years’ growth, and then only once in their lifetime; reproduction is largely vegetative. Some species spread aggressively and can form a dense undergrowth that excludes other plants.
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Most species of bamboo grow in Asia and on islands of the Indian and Pacific oceans.Bamboos are used for a great variety of purposes, especially in East and Southeast Asia. The seeds of some species are eaten as grain, and the cooked young shoots of some bamboos are eaten as vegetables, especially in Chinese cuisines. The raw leaves are a useful fodder for livestock. The pulped fibres of several bamboo species, especially Dendrocalamus strictus and Bambusa bambos, are used to make fine-quality paper. The jointed stems of bamboo have perhaps the most numerous uses; the largest stems supply planks for houses and rafts, while both large and small stems are lashed together to form the scaffoldings used on building-construction sites. The stems are also split up to make buckets and pipes or are used to make furniture, flooring, walking sticks, fishing poles, garden stakes, and other utensils. Some species of bamboo are used as ornamentals in landscape gardens. The fine-grained silica produced in the joints of bamboo stems has been used as a medicine in the Orient for centuries under the name tabasheer. East Asian artists, poets, and epicures have long celebrated the beauty and utility of bamboo in paintings and verse.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Melissa Petruzzello.
What is Bamboo? – American Bamboo Society
What is Bamboo? – American Bamboo Society
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What Is Bamboo?
Bamboo Planting and Care
What is Bamboo?
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family. In bamboo, the internodal regions of the stem are hollow in many species, and the vascular bundles in the cross section are scattered throughout the stem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement. The dicotyledonous woody xylem is also absent. The absence of secondary growth wood causes the stems of monocots, even of palms and large bamboos, to be columnar rather than tapering. Bamboos are some of the fastest growing plants in the world. They are capable of growing 60 cm or more per day due to a unique rhizome-dependent system. However, the growth rate is dependent on local soil and climatic conditions. Bamboos are of notable economic and cultural significance in East Asia and South East Asia, being used for building materials, as a food source, and as a versatile raw product.
There are more than 70 genera divided into about 1,450 species. Bamboo are found in diverse climates, from cold mountains to hot tropical regions. They occur across East Asia, from 50°N latitude in Sakhalin through to Northern Australia, and west to India and the Himalayas. They also occur in sub-Saharan Africa, and in the Americas from the Mid-Atlantic United States south to Argentina and Chile, reaching their southernmost point anywhere, at 47°S latitude. Continental Europe is not known to have any native species of bamboo. There have recently been some attempts to grow bamboo on a commercial basis in the Great Lakes region of eastern-central Africa, especially in Rwanda.
Taxonomy of Bamboo
Botanical Classification of Bamboo:
KINGDOM: Plantae
PHYLUM (DIVISION): Magnoliophyta
CLASS: Liliopsida
SUBCLASS: Commelinidae
ORDER: Cyperales
FAMILY: Gramineae (Poaceae)
SUBFAMILY: Bambusoideae
TRIBE: Bambuseae
SUBTRIBE: bambusinae
The Class, Subclass, and Order classifications are according to Cronquist (1988). The levels below Order can vary depending on whose classification you use. The ones shown above are widely accepted. For a thorough treatment of monocots as a whole see: Dahlgren, R. et al. 1985. The Families of the Monocotyledons: structure, evolution, and taxonomy. Springer-Verlag: Berlin.
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Home Editors' Picks The bamboo is Filipino, the Filipino is bamboo
Editors' PicksOpinion
The bamboo is Filipino, the Filipino is bamboo
November 25, 2020 | 5:40 pm
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By Marvin Tort
JONAS-JACOBSSON-WXQ5LW7-3JO-UNSPLASH
Seven years ago, Typhoon Yolanda wreaked havoc particularly in Eastern Visayas. Typhoon Rolly just recently did the same to Eastern Luzon. Soon after Yolanda hit in November 2013, I wrote about how I believed that wide-scale bamboo production could help typhoon-damaged Samar and Leyte get back on their feet. I suggest the same now for the Bicol and Cagayan regions.
Bamboo should be considered particularly for denuded watershed areas, and not only for its ability to mitigate flooding and soil erosion. Bamboo has also been categorized as a high-value crop given its many uses that include subsistence and commercial food, and material for building and furniture. Without doubt, bamboo has plenty of economic and ecological benefits.
One newspaper reported recently about an initiative to plant the Philippine Giant Bamboo species along the banks of the Marikina River and its tributaries in the Marikina Watershed. About 600 hectares in the Marikina Watershed is being eyed for reforestation with bamboo. I am sure scientists and experts will soon chime in whether or not this will be a worthwhile undertaking.
Bamboo seems more resilient than hardwood trees to withstand strong winds and rain. And in areas prone to flooding, bamboo can help against soil erosion as well as provide natural barriers to landslides. Bamboo is also easy to grow, even in the wild; does not require heavy irrigation; and can be harvested in three to five years. It is a good alternative to coconut trees.
Dr. Keith Laidler, director of the Panda Trust, noted in an article in The Guardian that “after the Hiroshima bomb in 1945, bamboo survived the atomic blast closer to ground zero better than any other flora or fauna.” He also noted that bamboo could be used to “‘repair soil’ damaged by overgrazing and poor agricultural techniques, while its complex network of roots is ideal for preventing soil erosion and flooding.”
And, unlike many tree species, “harvesting does not kill the bamboo, so topsoil erosion and other adverse effects of tree-felling are kept to a minimum,” he added. “Perhaps even more important, given the carbon dioxide emissions thought to be responsible for global warming and the threat to biodiversity, bamboo produces more than 35% more oxygen than trees. Research in Japan and elsewhere has demonstrated that bamboo can absorb as much as 12 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare per year, giving the plant a potentially crucial role in stabilizing our planet’s atmosphere. More bamboo would undoubtedly help the environment.”
Need we state more benefits? Dr. Laidler likewise noted that for more than 4,000 years, people have used bamboo in lots of ways: paper, construction, food, weaponry, medicine, and even as aphrodisiacs. What he finds ironic, however, is that most bamboo consumption is confined to South East Asia and Central America, “where the most economically valuable species flourish.”
And this, to me, raises the potential of export, if we can identify big market niches in North America and Europe. It is in this that I see potential in bamboo propagation, particularly for the Philippines. Other than helping address environmental or ecological concerns, and creating localized economic opportunities, developing new uses for bamboo can drastically boost the crop’s market potential abroad. And, perhaps, export income for the Philippines.
Some data available online indicate that bamboo can absorb up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide from the air per hectare; can lower light intensity and thus serve as protection against ultraviolet rays; is beneficial to soil conservation and serves as an effective soil erosion control; and, is a resilient windbreaker. And last but not least, bamboo is a “highly renewable material” that requires no replanting once a “clump” is already established.
In the Philippines, bamboo has long been a good construction material that can be made available in as early as three years from planting, faster than many wood species comparable in strength. And with added engineering, bamboo can be turned into sturdy and long-lasting construction materials such as floor and wall panels. Bamboo is also a source of healthy food, and is very popular in landscaping.
I recall having read somewhere that the Philippines have about 20 species that are endemic or are native to the country. Frankly, I am not in favor of “imported” or “introduced” species. Natural resiliency comes from species being endemic. Communities that grow bamboo should also become primary bases for bamboo manufacturing. Adding value to raw bamboo can be labor intensive, and can help generate local jobs.
Government research has also noted that bamboo “requires little and simple care,” and “can grow in a wide range of soils and produces a high amount of biomass.” It is also “a reforestation species very useful against soil erosion.” And, as I noted seven years ago, there are organizations like The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) in Beijing, China that promote innovative solutions to poverty and environmental sustainability using bamboo and rattan.
INBAR runs programs on Environmental Sustainability,Livelihood and Economic Development, Trade Development, and Global Bamboo Housing, among others. Its “Global Marketing Initiative” also helps in determining the marketability of new products to markets like North America and Europe as it links local producers with overseas designers.
In February, the Department of Trade and Industry said government agencies were aligning their various programs in the value chain of the bamboo industry. This, I believe, is a good start. I can only hope for better follow through, especially after how Typhoon Rolly brought flood waters down on Marikina and other parts of the country. The National Greening Program of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, for one, needs more support in planting bamboo in over 19,000 hectares nationwide.
I believe we should work to make bamboo one of our export champions. In this line, the government needs an industry roadmap and a unified program that will encourage and support bamboo production and social enterprises linked to bamboo propagation in all parts of the country. And while it may not be the best-suited crop for Eastern Luzon, given how things are now in Regions 2 and 5, I believe these areas have little to lose in considering a new crop “champion” that bends with the wind, and is unbreakable as the Filipino.
Crisis after crisis, natural disasters or otherwise, we have always survived. We were blessed with patience and mild temper, endurance and stamina, good humor and humility, and faith. And thus, we have always endured. We are resilient, just like bamboo. We bend with the strong wind, then we stand up again after it passes. The bamboo is Filipino and the Filipino is bamboo.
Marvin Tort is a former managing editor of BusinessWorld, and a former chairman of the Philippines Press Council
matort@yahoo.com
CEDTyClea
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Number of trees to be planted: 1 20 50 100 Other Trees Default Title Plant Trees
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When you think about reforestation, bamboo may not be the first thing that comes to mind. And it’s true that bamboo isn’t technicallya tree — but planting and cultivating it is no less beneficial for people and the environment. Indeed, as the fastest growing grass on the planet, bamboo has incredible potential as a sustainable resource. Its woody stem makes it very tree-like, yet it also has unique properties. That's why one of our projects involves planting bamboo!
1. Bamboo Grows Fast - Like, Really Fast According to Guinness World Records, some species of bamboo can grow up to 2.91 ft/day — or, 1.5 inches/hr. So if you sit with a bamboo culm for long enough, it might just grow before your eyes!How does bamboo grow? As a colony plant, it uses its energy for root expansion and shoot growth in the spring. These shoots emerge from the soil, steadily growing taller and wider for around 60 days. After 60 days, the canes stop growing altogether, and energy is directed back to the roots for the development of further canes.This is where bamboo differs from most other flora, which put their energy into continued growth of the original stem throughout the growing season. Once bamboo is established (usually after 3 years), the new shoots that emerge each spring will continue to get bigger and bigger. Pretty cool, right? 2. Bamboo Has Regeneration Superpowers No, really! Cutting bamboo actually stimulates growth. How does this work? Instead of using its energy to regain the lost height, a cut bamboo stalk will simply unfurl new leaves.These leaves, in turn, create and send more energy down to its roots to encourage the growth of new shoots. The more that gets harvested, the faster bamboo grows. That makes bamboo an incredible renewable resource that can be sustainably harvested. 3. Bamboo Can Sequester A Lot of Carbon Bamboo’s incredible growth rate is impressive, and some of the reasons are less obvious — including its powerful carbon sequestration potential. When properly managed and intensively harvested, bamboo can sequester up to 1.78 tonnes of CO2 per clump per year. This translates into a CO2 drawdown curve that’s up to 10X faster than that of woody trees. That's HUGE! 4. Bamboo Filters and Slows the Flow of Water Dense bamboo roots form an effective water barrier, and are used by coastal villages to protect their crops from getting washed away by rising water tables. And thanks to this barrier, bamboo can effectively filter organic matter (including soil nitrogen), leading some scientists to explore it as a sustainable wastewater treatment option. 5. Bamboo is Virtually Fire-Proof Because it contains large amounts of silicate acid, bamboo is abnormally flame resistant. This is good news in fire-prone regions of the world, where other tree and grass species are regularly devastated by wildfires. Incorporating clumping bamboo, where ecologically appropriate, into tropical reforestation efforts, can protect the long-term viability of projects. 6. Bamboo is Really Strong and Flexible Which makes it an incredible, environmentally friendly building material — especially in earthquake-prone regions. In this regard, bamboo has been prevalent since the beginning of humanity, and has been used in place of wood, bricks, steel, and more. In fact, in some countries, bamboo stalks are used to build scaffolding. If we used bamboo for more construction purposes, we would save many trees and primary forests from deforestation. 7. Bamboo Helps to Hold the Soil Together Because bamboo is a grass, it has a very shallow root system — with rhizomes only populating the top 6 inches of the soil. The rest of the roots only spread around 14 inches deeper. But because the roots are so densely clumped, they do a great job at holding the top layer of the soil together, thus preventing soil erosion. 8. Bamboo Helps Women Economics Seriously! The light weight of bamboo allows women to participate in the bamboo economy, giving them access to a potentially lucrative source of income. This increased economic security and standing can help secure them a place in decision-making in political, economic and public life. Some examples of products they can make with this self-sustaining resource are: bamboo briquettes, bamboo flooring, charcoal, incense sticks, and furniture. Pretty amazing, right?
Is Bamboo Invasive?It depends on which type we’re talking about. In the case of running bamboo,the rhizome grows horizontally away from the culm, and can indeed spread rapidly over large areas of land.However, the rhizomes of clumping bamboogrow vertically, spreading upward and growing directly off of each other. Above-ground, this causes the new shoots to “clump” together — and thankfully, that means it isn't invasive.It also depends on where you are and whether bamboo grows naturally in the region. It is native to tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate climates and is most common in Asia and South America, although it also grows in areas of Australia, Africa, and in the southern United States.In our tree planting projects that include bamboo, we always plant clumping bamboo species, allowing us to reap all of its amazing benefits without risking unintended harm — a win-win for the planet.Want to learn more about how we are sustainably planting bamboo and facilitating cutting-edge research on carbon sequestration? Check out our Philippines project to plant bamboo with us today!
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Get news, updates, & event Info delivered right to your inbox: Meaghan Weeden Meaghan works to share our story far and wide, manages our blog calendar, coordinates with the team on projects + campaigns, and ensures our brand voice is reflected across channels. With a background in communications and an education in environmental conservation, she is passionate about leveraging her creativity to help the environment! Related Posts
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Bamboo – Industry Strategic Science and Technology Plans (ISPs) Platform
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Bamboo Industry Profile
Bamboo is one of the most economically significant non-timber forest products globally. It belongs to the family of grasses, Gramineae or Poaceae, and is a high-value crop given its many uses involving food and material for buildings, bridges, and furniture. With its ability to mitigate flood and soil erosion, bamboo has various economic and ecological benefits. The Philippines is 6th among the largest exporters of bamboo in the world. The total area of bamboo stands in the Philippines ranges from 39,000-53,000 ha, mainly naturally growing sporadically or in patches in backyards and riverbanks in forest lands and some private lands and rarely in pure commercial stands. The potential production from these areas of bamboo stands has been estimated at an average of 36 million culms per year. For ages, bamboo has been used for a lot of purposes. The Philippines has been actively producing and processing bamboo products for construction, furniture and handicraft manufacture, food, musical instruments, farm and fishing implements, pulp and paper, and fuel for cooking and heating.
Problems in the Industry
Bamboo has disadvantages like susceptibility to insect and fungal attack, small diameter, thin-walled and hollow conditions. Like any industry, the bamboo industry is also beset with problems and challenges. Among the many issues and challenges are as follows: pests and diseases, low supply of bamboo raw materials, quality poles, and planting materials; low survival rate for macro-propagation; limited technology for shoot production and marketing strategies; high cost of processed products; and weak transfer of technology strategies. There should also be initiatives to address the gaps and issues on the following:Reliable and updated data on bamboo supply and locationAwareness of bamboo policiesKnowledge of the potential uses of bambooIncentives for value-adding activitiesFully developed bamboo value chainManagement of pests and diseases of bamboo stands
ISP for Bamboo
The ISP for Bamboo hopes to address the following:
Inadequate supply of bamboo raw materials and quality planting materialsLow survival rate for bamboo macro-propagation (in nursery and plantation)Pests and diseases in the nursery and plantation; preventive and control measures against pest and diseases; insect and fungal attack of newly harvested polesLow quality of poles; high cost of processed productsNeed to develop new products (high-quality charcoal; textile, nano crystalline cellulose; processed food products from shoots); limited technology for shoot productionAbsence of consolidated policies on bamboo harvesting, transport, exportation, and importation; and limited marketing strategiesWeak transfer of technology strategies
Strategic R&D
Strategic R&D is DOST-PCAARRD’s banner program comprising all R&D activities that are intended to generate outputs geared towards maximum economic and social benefits
Strategies for Propagule and Shoot Production of Three Bamboo Species
To develop strategies and establish baseline information for propagules and bamboo shoot production, best practices in bamboo propagule propagation and...Read More
Lapnis face shields and Bamboo-Abaca dispenser
As the country adapts to the “new normal,” more face shields, hands-free dispensers, and foot baths will be required. Other...Read More
Addressing Policy Constraints and Information Needs
In 2017, a PCAARRD-funded project, “Creating an Enabling Environment for a Vibrant Philippine Bamboo Industry: Addressing Policy Constraints and Information...Read More
Bamboo propagation via branch cuttings
To develop technologies that could enhance the propagation and plantation management, DOST-PCAARRD partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural...Read More
Technologies
Products, equipment, and protocols or process innovations developed to improve productivity, efficiency, quality, and profitability in the agriculture and aquatic industries, and to achieve sustainable utilization and management of natural resources
High quality charcoal from bamboo
A technology for producing high-quality charcoal was developed by the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI). The technology is developed under the project, “High-Quality Charcoal from Bamboo for Industrial...Read More
Technology Transfer Initiatives
Technology transfer initiatives ensure that the outputs of R&D and innovations are transformed into viable and applicable technologies that help intended users
S&T Community-Based Model Farm (STCBMF) on Bamboo and Bamboo Woven Products: An Eco-/Agri-Tourism Theme Park in Maasin, Iloilo
The project established five (5) theme parks that feature technologies on the production of bamboo and bamboo woven products, these technologies serve as the ecotourism products themselves promoted and pursued...Read More
Production and Marketing of Bamboo Woven Products: Enhancing on Business Enterprise through TechnoMart in Maasin, Iloilo
This project intends to fast-track the movement of S&T-based bamboo products from Maasin, Iloilo to the different segmented markets in Western Visayas in partnership with business organizations in the government...Read More
FPRDI IP-TBM Phase II: Patent Mining of Bamboo Thru Intellectual Property and Technology Business Management Office in the DOST-FPRDI
The project will be implemented for two years (January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022) by Forest Products Research and Development Institute in Narra St., Forestry Campus, UPLB, College, Laguna,...Read More
S&T Community-based Nursery, Plantation Establishment and Management of Giant Bamboo in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon
The S&T Community-based Nursery and Plantations as a techno-transfer modality will assist the bamboo nursery growers, and plantation farmers build a unified and robust alliance towards supporting the bamboo industry....Read More
S&T Community-based Bamboo Nursery and Plantation for Pole Production in Iligan City
The community-based project on the bamboo nursery and plantation for pole production employs an innovative or precision farming approach with five major components: 1) organization and capability building of farmer...Read More
Enhancing Bamboo Production in Maasin, Iloilo: A S&T Community-based Farms (STCBF) Approach
The project was an upscale application of S&T interventions on a bamboo pole and mat production in Maasin, Iloilo, found to be profitable in the regular STBF implemented in the...Read More
Capacity Building
Capacity building efforts of DOST-PCAARRD seek to develop and enhance the R&D capabilities of researchers and academic or research institutions through graduate assistantships & non-degree trainings and development and/or upgrading of research facilities
Infrastructure Development
Upgrading the Bamboo Production Facility of PSAU
Upgrading the Bamboo Production Facility of PSAU
Manpower Development
Training-workshop on Sustainable Small and Medium-Scale Bamboo Enterprises for the Green Economy
Training-workshop on Sustainable Small and Medium-Scale Bamboo Enterprises for the Green Economy
Policy Research & Advocacy
Analysis of policy concerns and advocacy of science-informed policies ensures that the AANR policy environment is conducive for S&T development and investments
On to Greater Heights: Boosting the Philippine Bamboo Industry through Policy Action and Advocacy
The PCAARRD-funded project titled “Creating an Enabling Environment for a Vibrant Philippine Bamboo Industry: Addressing Policy Constraints and Information Needs” has revealed several factors that hinder the development of the country’s bamboo industry. Foremost of which are unfavorable policy environments and lack of reliable and updated bamboo statistics. Results showed that eliminating CoV in the bamboo industry will yield greater economic benefits than costs, as evidenced by positive NPVs and BCRs greater than one. Therefore, it is recommended to simplify the regulatory system of harvesting and transporting bamboo products by removing CoV requirements.
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DENR supports World Bamboo Day 2020
As the Philippines joins the rest of the globe in celebrating the World Bamboo Day on Sept. 18, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) goes all out in promoting the benefits of bamboo as a sustainable resource.
Bamboo, which is considered today as the “green gold,” has been rapidly gaining momentum in recent years with no less than DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu attesting to its sustainability and durability.
In fact, Cimatu, a bamboo enthusiast, made a fresh pitch for the “wonder plant” when he recently appeared at a budget hearing in the House of Representatives.
According to the DENR chief, bamboo—one of the fastest growing renewable resources in the world—is not only a sustainable alternative to wood, but also an effective climate change solution.
He told lawmakers the direction of the Enhanced National Greening Program (ENGP), the government’s flagship reforestation initiative being implemented by the DENR, “is towards planting bamboo.”
“We intend to make amendments in the ENGP to increase the country’s production of bamboo,” Cimatu said, believing that the shift to bamboo would help improve the country’s forest cover.
For 2020 alone, Cimatu said the DENR targets to cover 16,867 hectares of land nationwide with bamboo trees.
Bamboo is valued for its ecological benefits. It absorbs greenhouse gases, insulates carbon dioxide from the environment and produces 35 percent more oxygen than its equivalent tree size.
The plant’s strong and extensive roots prevent soil erosion and landslides. It can hasten aquifer recharge in a watershed and is a source of food and biofuel in the form of charcoal and briquettes.
It is for these reasons why bamboo gets a well-deserved attention and support from the DENR which, through its Forest Management Bureau (FMB), has lined up activities for the entire month of September to raise public awareness on bamboo and its benefits.
FMB Director Lourdes Wagan said that due to the growing demand for bamboo, it rapidly transitioned from being a “poor man’s timber” to a sought after commodity now called “green gold.”“This recognition of the increasing economic value of bamboo, and its vital role in forest recovery and climate change adaptation and mitigation are the reasons the DENR and FMB are taking part in this annual event,” Wagan said.
Most of the activities are done online in light of the continuing health threat posed by COVID-19. In all Mondays of the month, the FMB will be posting trivia or little known facts about bamboo on its official Facebook page.
It will also be conducting webinars and talks every Wednesday with DENR officials and other experts as guest speakers on various topics related to bamboo.
The highlight of the celebration will be the nationwide simultaneous bamboo planting, in which the kickoff event will be held at the Batasang Pambansa grounds in Quezon City on Sept. 18. It is jointly organized by the DENR’s Task Force Tayo Ang Kalikasan and the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC).
Among those expected to attend the event are Secretary Cimatu, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, Deputy Speaker Deogracias Victor Savellano, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Agriculture Secretary William Dar and PBIDC Executive Director Rene Madarang.
Another highlight of the World Bamboo Day celebration is the virtual launch of Kilusang 5K (Kawayan, Kalikasan, Kabuhayan, Kaunlaran and Kinabukasan), an advocacy group formed to create awareness on bamboo and to back its development as a major industry and livelihood, as a rich and sustainable natural resource for food, and for environmental protection and preservation.
World Bamboo Day was established in 2009 by India’s Kamesh Salam during the 8th World Bamboo Congress in Bangkok, Thailand. Kamesh was the former president of the World Bamboo Organization, a group that promotes global information sharing on the environmental, socioeconomic, biological and cultural aspects of bamboo. #
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Published: 16 September 2020
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15 Types of Bamboo to Grow in Your Garden
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15 Interesting Types of Bamboo You Can Actually Grow Right at Home
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Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette
Mary Marlowe Leverette is one of the industry's most highly-regarded housekeeping and fabric care experts, sharing her knowledge on efficient housekeeping, laundry, and textile conservation. She is also a Master Gardener with over 40+ years of experience and 20+ years of writing experience. Mary is also a member of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.
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Worldwide, there are approximately 1,500 bamboo species found from tropical regions to the snowline of the Andes. Bamboos (subfamily Bambusoideae) are among the broad-leaved grasses (Poaceae) associated with forest habitats that diversified into woody stemmed plants.
For gardeners, there are around 500 species, subspecies, varieties, and cultivars of bamboo suitable to grow in the United States and Canada. Here are 15 types of bamboo to grow in your garden.
01
of 15
Tortoiseshell Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis 'Heterocycla')
Masako Ishida / Moment / Getty Images
Tortoiseshell Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis var. heterocycla) is called Kikkou-chiku in Japan and is used in traditional crafts including floor pillars and flower vases. The rare bamboo can reach up to four inches wide with the nodes most prominent at the base of the plant.
The leaves are small, paper thin, and pale green on the upper side and darker underneath. This bamboo spreads and prefers fertile, moist, well-draining soil.
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Susceptible to rust, stem smut, and slug damage. It can be propagated by clump division.
Name: Tortoiseshell Bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis 'Heterocycla')Hardiness Zones: 7-10Mature Height: 15-25 feet
02
of 15
Variegated Bamboo (Pleioblastus fortunei 'Tsuboi')
DigiPub / Moment / Getty Images
A variegated bamboo, Pleioblastus fortunei 'Tsuboi', is perfect for a short hedge or container planting. A small-leafed bamboo, each leaf has a white stripe in the center. Cold hardy and versatile, it spreads quickly to fill a space.
Name: Pleioblastus fortunei 'Tsuboi'Hardiness Zones: 4-10Mature Height: 2-4 feet
03
of 15
Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)
undefined undefined / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) is a vigorous running bamboo that can quickly become invasive. The canes begin as olive green and become a mottled brown-black before becoming jet black at around 2 to 3 years of age.
The plants tolerate full sun to partial shade and prefer moist but well-draining soil. The plants are deer-resistant and do well as a privacy hedge or in containers. Once established, this species is very difficult to eradicate.
Name: Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra)Hardiness Zones: 7-11Mature Height: 15-25 feet
04
of 15
Asian Lemon Bamboo (Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata)
crisserbug / iStock / Getty Images Plus
A clumping bamboo, Asian Lemon Bamboo works well as a privacy screen, accent plant, or large container plant. It is cold-tolerant down to the upper 20 F. and will flourish in full sun to partial shade. The plant loves moist, well-draining soil and responds well to regular watering and organic fertilizer.
Name: Asian Lemon Bamboo (Bambusa eutuldoides viridi-vittata)Hardiness Zones: 9-11Mature Height: 25 feet
Continue to 5 of 15 below
05
of 15
Clumping bamboo (Fargesia robusta 'Campbell')
Simone Madeo / iStock / Getty Images Plus
A clumping bamboo, Fargesia robusta 'Campbell', is an excellent choice as an upright, narrow privacy screen. The first introduction of this species into the Western world was from Sichuan, China.
It boasts dark green foliage and light green culms, with new shoots that are hairy and rusty red upon emergence from the ground in early spring. This bamboo is more sun tolerant than most clumping bamboo.
Name: Fargesia robusta 'Campbell'Hardiness Zones: 5-8Mature Height: 12-15 feet
06
of 15
Giant Bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus)
Kwisky / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus), also known as dragon bamboo or giant timber bamboo, is a giant tropical and subtropical species native to Southeast Asia. It forms dramatic dense clumps 40 to 50 feet wide and up to 100 feet tall. The culms can grow up to 12 inches per day and prefer full sun and rich, moist, well-draining soil.
Name: Giant bamboo (Dendrocalamus giganteus)Hardiness Zones: 9-11Mature Height: 80-100 feet
07
of 15
Red bamboo (Fargesia nitida)
EAGiven / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Red bamboo (Fargesia nitida) is a non-invasive, clumping bamboo with finely textured foliage and striking red canes. As the canes age, they turn yellow as a complementary contrast. It is more cold-hardy than other bamboo and is suitable as an evergreen choice for hedges or privacy screening.
Name: Red bamboo (Fargesia nitida)Hardiness Zones: 5-8Mature Height: 6-8 feet
08
of 15
Fargesia robusta 'Asian Wonder'
Nahhan / iStock / Getty Images Plus
An umbrella bamboo, Asian Wonder (Fargesia robusta var. Asian Wonder) is a low-maintenance, non-spreading plant with purple-blue canes when juvenile with orange-tinged sheaths, turning olive-green when older.
Once established, it does require occasional watering during dry periods and minimal pruning to remove dead or damaged canes. It's also considered deer-resistant.
Name: Asian Wonder (Fargesia robusta var. Asian Wonder)Hardiness Zones: 5-9Mature Height: 6-9 feet
Continue to 9 of 15 below
09
of 15
Alphonse Karr (Bambusa Multiplex)
LindseyLeeanna / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Alphonse Karr bamboo, Bambusa Multiplex, features brightly striped canes of yellow and green that grow to 30 to 40 feet. As an added point of interest, new shoots are pink. A clumping bamboo, it forms compact, symmetrical circles that are easy to maintain. Alphonse Karr works well as a container plant or as a garden privacy hedge.
Name: Alphonse Karr (Bambusa Multiplex)Hardiness Zones: 8-11Mature Height: 30-40 feet
10
of 15
Umbrella bamboo (Fargesia murieliae)
Sad Abdul Wali / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Fargesia murieliae is a hardy bamboo offering a cascading canopy of evergreen foliage with new shoots appearing as light blue with tan culm sheaths and aging to a yellowish-green. It does not have running rhizomes making it easy to contain.
It's also considered deer-resistant. It is not recommended for climates with a lot of intense heat or high summer humidity.
Name: Umbrella bamboo (Fargesia murieliae)Hardiness Zones: 5-9Mature Height: 10-14 feet
11
of 15
Dwarf bamboo (Sasaella ramosa)
Irfani Kurniawali / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Sasaella ramosa or dwarf bamboo typically reaches no more than 1.5 ft. tall. It is a highly aggressive and dominant runner that works well for erosion control on slopes. To keep a uniform height as a ground cover, it should be trimmed back to ground level each March, just before new shoots begin to appear.
Name: Dwarf bamboo (Sasaella ramosa)Hardiness Zones: 7Mature Height: 1.5-6 feet
12
of 15
Silver Bird (Fargesia murielae var. 'Silver Bird')
emer 1940 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
A variety of Fargesia murielae, Silver Bird bamboo has small, rich green leaves with a bluish-silver underside. When exposed to strong sunlight, the bamboo turns its leaves to reveal the silvery underside. New shoots are reddish, changing to thin green or yellow canes as they age. While easy to contain, the plant has a sprawling but dense form.
Name: Silver Bird (Fargesia murielae var. Silver Bird)Hardiness Zones: 5-9Mature Height: 10-13 feet
Continue to 13 of 15 below
13
of 15
Fargesia dracocephala sp. 'Rufa' var. 'Green Panda'
silentstock639 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Green Panda bamboo (Fargesia dracocephala sp. 'Rufa' var. 'Green Panda' ) is a vigorous, non-invasive clumping plant. Reaching only 10 feet, it produces many new rusty red culms each season.
A hardy bamboo, it tolerates lower temperatures well and does not thrive in hot, humid conditions. If planted in full sun, some afternoon shade is preferred.
Name: Fargesia dracocephala sp. 'Rufa' var. 'Green Panda' Hardiness Zones: 5-8Mature Height: 6-10 feet
14
of 15
Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)
Frans Sellies / Moment / Getty Images
Golden bamboo, (Phyllostachys aurea), also called fishpole bamboo, is one of the most common bamboo in the United States. Growing rigidly upright, it is an aggressive spreader.
The culms begin as green but when exposed to direct sunlight the canes will become yellow. A dense, bushy bamboo, the foliage can be left at ground level or pruned to expose the canes.
Name: Golden Bamboo (Phyllostachys aurea)Hardiness Zones: 4-10Mature Height: 15-35 feet
15
of 15
Crookstem bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata var. 'Alata')
Ryan McVay / The Image Bank / Getty Images
To add interest to a bamboo garden, Crookstem bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata var. 'Alata') offers abrupt zig-zags in the lower portion of one out of about 10 culms.
It is one of the hardiest bamboos and despite the zig-zags grows rigidly upright. Alata is the all-green form of the crookstem Yellow Groove Bamboo that has a yellow stripe on a dark green culm.
Name: Crookstem bamboo (Phyllostachys aureosulcata var. 'Alata')Hardiness Zones: 5-10Mature Height: 25-30 feet
Article Sources
The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bamboo. Oxford University.
Bamboo Diversity. University of Iowa.
Bamboo Species Source List. American Bamboo Society.
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Bamboo offers many agricultural and agribusiness opportunities – Agriculture Monthly
Bamboo offers many agricultural and agribusiness opportunities – Agriculture Monthly
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CROPS Bamboo offers many agricultural and agribusiness opportunities
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By Rita Dela Cruz
Bamboo is known by different names. But one that particularly sticks in the mind is bamboo being referred to as the “cradle to coffin” plant, owing to its wide variety of uses and benefits to humans from birth to death.
In the Philippines, bamboo is ubiquitous and is considered a highly-utilized resource for the household. In fact, Filipinos never go about their daily chores without using bamboo — from simply sitting on rustic furniture made from bamboo poles to using bamboo-made utensils for cooking.
Widely-known for being resilient, the bamboo’s hollow, slender stem sways with the gentle breeze and bends when a storm comes, but it doesn’t break. It remains standing tall even with the strongest wind. It is this particular trait that makes bamboo stand out among its counterparts. It has a tensile strength that can withstand the tension of being altered. In the realm of human behavior, this is called resiliency.
A perennial, woody-stemmed grass known for its rapid growth and variety of uses, bamboo has woody and hollow stems with nodes and internodes, rhizomes, and branches. The stem reaches its full height in about 60-90 days and depending on the intended use, can be harvested in three to five years.
As a crop, bamboo is highly renewable, without the need to replant once the clumps have already been established. It produces new shoots on an annual basis and is vegetatively multiplied, using stalk and branch sections that are induced to sprout before transplanting on the field.
Multifarious uses of bamboo
Bamboo has caught worldwide attention as an all-around plant with environmental and economic benefits. The uses of bamboo have expanded to include industries and products for domestic use, commercial production, food and arts, and ornamental and conservation purposes.
Domestic uses of bamboo include manufacturing its culms into farm and garden items such as vegetable stakes, trellis or fish pen fences, as well as turning them into decorative handicrafts.
The tensile strength of bamboo makes it a conductive material for construction and a durable substitute for wood products. Technologies have been developed to turn them into concrete reinforcements and structural floors and panels.
Furniture making is a well-known industry that spurred bamboo as a green or eco-friendly material.
It can be used in interior design and furniture structures to make long-lasting products that can compete well with the world.
Bamboo is also an in-demand material for so-called “green coffins” due to its eco-friendly trait, which is that it is biodegradable. Green coffins do not harm the environment as they decompose easily and do not release toxins into the soil.
As a food, the young tender shoots of bamboo are used as broth and ingredient in a variety of Filipino dishes including dinengdeng, lumpia, kilawin, and atsara, among others.
Known locally as labong, it is rich in proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, fibers, and minerals, and low in calories. The bamboo shoot is considered a gourmet item in Western countries, thus providing a market niche as an imported product.
In the field of arts, bamboo is mostly used to make musical instruments including flutes, winds, percussion, and strings. The world-famous Bamboo Organ, found only in Las Piñas City, Philippines, is a 19th-century church organ made from bamboo. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2003, which made the St. Joseph Parish Church where it is housed a popular tourist destination.
The world-famous Bamboo Organ, found only in Las Piñas City, is a 19th-century church organ made from bamboo. It was declared a National Cultural Treasure of the Philippines in 2003, which made the St. Joseph Parish Church, where it is housed, a popular tourist destination.
Bamboo is also suitable for ornamental and landscape purposes, making it a preferred plant for parks and along walkways. Its natural look and aesthetic beauty is suited for landscaping and urban greening initiatives.
For conservation, bamboo can prevent soil erosion due to its widespread root system while creating a pleasing visual effect, and hedges around homestead and farms for windbreaks.
Planting bamboo has an environmental benefit due to its ability to cleanse the air.
According to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), bamboo stands release 35 percent more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees. Some bamboo can sequester up to 12 tons of carbon dioxide from the air per hectare and can lower light intensity and protect humans against ultraviolet rays.
Bamboo as a high-value crop
Pursuant to the intensified promotion of the bamboo industry, Agriculture Secretary William Dar made a policy pronouncement declaring bamboo a high-value crop on February 6, 2020 at the Department of Agriculture (DA).
“We need to bring together efforts in sustaining and making the environment resilient, while at the same time enhancing the economic activities of the sector,” Dar said during a meeting of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC).
“With bamboo as a high-value crop, we can undertake various interventions that include research, processing and value-adding, and budgetary support, complementing the programs and projects of the PBIDC,” said Secretary Dar.
“Starting this year, we will have some activities lined up to support the advancement of the bamboo industry,” he added.
Secretary Dar said the DA’s new agri-industrial strategy under the “new thinking for agriculture” looks not only at enhancing farm productivity, but also at developing more value-added products so that farmers and their families are provided with more business and employment opportunities, and thus more incomes.
“We need to tap the power of technology to mass propagate bamboo. It would be good if the PBIDC can look at opportunities in providing funding support for bamboo tissue culture to address the lack of planting materials needed to rejuvenate the country’s bamboo industry,” Dar said.
He also cited the importance of inviting more Filipino and foreign investors to set up tissue culture facilities and engage in bamboo production and processing.
“Let’s not concentrate on doing it within the government only. If there is a business opportunity, and tissue culture could be one business opportunity for bamboo, then let’s pursue this,” he said.
“The new strategy is to bring in the private sector and partner with communities and farmers’ groups so that we can elevate the business and income opportunities for the Philippine bamboo industry,” Dar concluded.
September as bamboo month
To encourage government agencies, including the local government units, to plant bamboo in suitable locations nationwide, the House of Representatives has issued Resolution No. 20 in November 2019 proclaiming September of every year as “Philippine Bamboo Month.”
The resolution aims to promote the importance of bamboo in the daily lives of the Filipinos by recognizing its many uses and its economic contribution to the country.
Enumerated in the resolution are economic and environmental values of bamboo in various areas including construction, arts, food, furniture, and handicraft industry, as well as in controlling soil erosion, restoring land by sequestering carbon and absorbing heavy metals in mined-out areas.
“The bamboo products contribute to the dollar revenues of the country, and bamboo processing itself can provide employment to a sizable portion of the country’s labor force,” the resolution states.
As bamboo is abundant in the Philippines, the resolution likewise acknowledges the plant’s resiliency against various environmental calamities symbolizing the resilient spirit of the Filipinos amidst life adversities.
Bamboo as a rural enterprise and agribusiness
Bamboo, with its versatility and quick-growing characteristics, has been considered a “pro-poor crop,” enabling the creation of new livelihood and market opportunities. The increasing market potential of bamboo paved the way to value-adding prospects and generating sustainable income and employment opportunities for the country.
To maintain bamboo’s competitive advantage in the local and international markets, innovation and entrepreneurship must be set up in such a way that technologies are utilized towards high value-adding activities.
This is in line with the recent pronouncement of Agriculture Secretary William Dar on agripreneurship as part of the paradigms to modernize Philippine agriculture.
“Agriculture must be treated as business undertakings with the objective of industrializing the value chain of every agricultural commodity,” Dar said.
In view of this, a project titled “Setting-up Bamboo Rural Enterprise and Agribusiness Diversified Incubator,” is being implemented by Marinduque State University (MSC).
Patterned after the successful agri-based technology business incubators (TBI), the project aimed to develop technological competitiveness through business incubation and foster sustainable business growth by stimulating bamboo-based rural entrepreneurship in the Philippines.
Funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) under its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP), the initiative serves as a bridging platform to mobilize and engage stakeholders, including state universities and colleges (SUCs) with the agribusiness sector, specifically in commercializing the technologies that will make the bamboo industry competitive.
“More investments on income- and market-oriented agricultural research for development (R4D) must be made by getting the SUCs involved. They know first-hand what type of industries related to agriculture that can be established in their areas based on current activities,” Dar reiterated.
Specifically, the bamboo project will promote entrepreneurship in rural areas and support agribusiness opportunities including tissue-culture nurseries, diversified farming systems, and innovative farm-based services.
“With the increasing market potential of bamboo where value-adding can be done at the local community, it can help rural areas generate sustainable income and create employment opportunities,” stated MSC President and Project Leader Merian Catajay-Mani.
Mani added that the project will provide market linkage and financial assistance in the form of inputs, basic equipment, and training.
“Through the project, it will enable the bamboo farming community to become part of the value-chain providing access to resources and new markets,” she concluded.
This appeared in Agriculture Monthly’s April 2020 issue.
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Things you should know about bamboo | Kew
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Things you should know about bamboo
3 September 2020
Things you should know about bamboo
A favourite with pandas, bamboo is one of the most versatile plants in the world.
By
Ellen McHale
From panda food to furniture, bamboo (Bambusoideae) is a resilient plant with many different uses.
Bamboos are a group of woody plants in the grass family Poaceae. Although they're grasses, some bamboos are so large they resemble trees.
Find out more about these incredible plants.
Panda food
Pandas wouldn't survive without bamboos, as it makes up 99% of their diets.
They live mainly in the forests of southwest China, where they munch on bamboo leaves, shoots and stems all day, every day.
The nutritional value of bamboo plants is low so they have to eat 12–38 kg per day to get all the nutrients they need.
They also choose the best bamboo variety according to the season. They forage for bamboo shoots and leaves at certain times of year when the plants are richer in nutrients like nitrogen and calcium.
Did you know?
In the 1970s and 1980s, Kew supplied bamboo canes to London Zoo when pandas were housed there. Our horticulturalists also advised zoo staff on the correct bamboos to use in the panda enclosures.
Panda/Unsplash
Bamboo are the fastest growing woody plants in the world
Bamboo plants are speedy growers and in the right conditions some species can grow an incredible 1 metre in 24 hours.
Bamboos are hardy plants, and aren't usually bothered by pests and diseases.
They prefer well-drained soil and are likely to rot if the soil is too wet. Bamboos grow well in moist, humid air, and in the wild are often found hanging over rivers and streams.
Bamboo grove in Kyoto/Unsplash
Bamboo is an economically important plant
From furniture to fabric, bamboo plants are used for many different things we use in our day-to-day lives.
It has been used for thousands of years in China as a building material, in clothing and musical instruments. Before the invention of paper, strips of bamboo plants were used as a writing material and to make books.
It is still a popular building material to this day due to its flexibility and is used to build bridges, housing, scaffolding and flooring.
It can even be made into fabric. The plants are crushed, broken down using natural enzymes, and then the fibres are combed out and spun into yarn.
Eating bamboo plants isn't just for pandas, as bamboo shoots are edible and are used in traditional Japanese, Chinese and Indonesian cooking.
Did you know?
Bamboos are hard to identify and name correctly. Identification is important to make sure supply chains are transparent and to ensure bamboo is coming from sustainable sources.
Kew has worked with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation (INBAR) to publish the World Checklist and Atlas of Bamboos and Rattans. The list included many species that were simply not known before.
Everyone working with bamboos and rattans will now be able to find the correct plant name quickly and easily, and confirm where the plants grow.
Kew bamboo garden, Ellen McHale © RBG Kew
We have one of the largest bamboo collections in the UK
Our Bamboo Garden houses 130 bamboo species from China, Japan, the Himalaya and Americas, making it one of the largest collections in the UK.
Our displays are arranged by appearance to highlight different textures and leaf shapes.
The first bamboo plant to arrive at Kew was Phyllostachys nigra (black bamboo), in 1826.
The Bamboo Garden was planted in 1891 to house our growing collection. The chosen site was a disused gravel pit, used to dig the gravel for our paths around the Gardens.
Highlights of the Bamboo Garden include the striking yellow Chusquea from South America, which has solid, hollow canes.
You might see dragonflies and damselflies which often fly through the bamboo foliage, and look out for birds as they like to shelter in the dense undergrowth.
The 19th century movement of plants
The 19th century saw a national obsession with plant hunting, which introduced exotic plants to our shores and benefited our gardens at home.
Plant hunters scoured Chinese and Japanese landscapes for plants that would do well in the British climate.
At that time, people had no idea whether the collected bamboos were resilient enough to grow in Britain. They sent them to different locations to test their hardiness, including Kew Gardens.
Although the bounty of 19th century plant hunters benefited our gardens at home, they thought very little about the impact plant collecting had on the origin country.
Expeditions to bring home exotic flora were intertwined with British imperialism and the expanding power of European empires.
As a botanical garden and scientific institution, we have benefited from this movement of plants. We were beacons of discovery and science; but also beacons of privilege and exploitation.
Today, we are working to re-examine the history of our collections and revisit them with a new perspective.
Bamboo Garden at Kew, Ellen McHale © RBG Kew
Bamboo Garden at Kew, Ellen McHale © RBG Kew
Visit our Bamboo Garden
Take a stroll through serene bamboo plants.
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