bamboo

Bamboo is a group of woody perennial grasses in the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. It includes about 40 genera and between 1,000 and 1,400 species, among them Bambusa, Phyllostachys, Dendrocalamus, and Guadua. Native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, bamboo varies from tiny, creeping forms to tall, tree-like stands. Most species form rhizomes that produce new culms, which rise rapidly into erect stalks.

Structure and growth: Bamboo culms are hollow and segmented, with hollow internodes separated by nodes. Growth rates are among the fastest of plants under ideal conditions, with some species capable of adding up to about a meter in a single day. Growth seasonality and culm maturation vary by species and climate. Bamboo can be either clumping (sympodial) or running (monopodial) in its rhizome system, influencing spreading behavior.

Flowering and lifespan: Many bamboo species flower infrequently in gregarious events, sometimes at intervals of several decades, after which the plants may die. Seeds and sprouting shoots repopulate stands and support wildlife.

Uses and ecology: Bamboo is a versatile material used in construction, scaffolding, furniture, flooring, paper, and textiles. Young shoots, known as bamboo shoots, are consumed as a vegetable in many cuisines. Bamboo forests provide habitat for wildlife, and some species, such as giant pandas, rely on bamboo as a primary food source. Bamboo is valued for erosion control and carbon sequestration. In non-native regions, running bamboo can become invasive if not properly managed.