Bamboo

Bamboos are a diverse group of mostly evergreen perennial flowering plants that belong to the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. Some giant bamboos, like Dendrocalamus sinicus, can grow incredibly tall, with stalks reaching up to 46 meters (151 feet) long and nearly 36 centimeters (14 inches) wide. Even the smallest bamboos, such as Raddiella vanessiae found in French Guiana, are unique, with stalks only about 10 to 20 millimeters long.

Bamboos grow incredibly fast, with some species growing up to 91 centimeters (36 inches) in just one day. This rapid growth makes bamboo a useful plant for helping absorb carbon from the atmosphere and support efforts to fight climate change. Bamboo is also very strong for its weight, similar to timber, and is used in many ways by people in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and East Asia, including for building materials, food, and art.

Taxonomy

Bamboos are a special group of plants in the grass family. They were once thought to be the most basic grasses because of certain flower features. Recent studies have shown that some grasses once grouped with bamboos are now placed in different groups.

Bamboos are divided into three main groups based on where they grow. These groups include herbaceous bamboos from the New World, tropical woody bamboos, and temperate woody bamboos. There are over 1,400 species of bamboos in 115 different groups. Each group has its own set of genera, or types, which scientists study to understand more about these interesting plants.

Distribution

Most bamboo species grow naturally in warm, moist tropical and warm temperate areas. They can also be found in cooler mountain regions and highland cloud forests.

In the Asia-Pacific region, bamboo grows from as far north as 50 °N in Sakhalin to as far south as northern Australia, and as far west as India and the Himalayas. Countries like China, Japan, Korea, India, and Australia have their own special types of bamboo. Small amounts of bamboo also grow in sub-Saharan Africa, from southern Senegal to southern Mozambique and Madagascar. In the Americas, bamboo is native from southern Argentina through the tropical rainforests of South America to the Andes in Ecuador, with a gap in the dry Atacama Desert.

Three types of bamboo, all in the genus Arundinaria, are native to the Southeastern United States. These bamboo areas, called canebrakes, were once common but are now rare. Canada and most of Europe do not have native bamboo, but many types are grown there as garden plants. Recently, people have tried to grow bamboo commercially in the Great Lakes region of Africa, especially in Rwanda. In the United States, companies are now growing and selling species like Phyllostachys nigra and Phyllostachys edulis.

Ecology

Bamboos grow in two main ways: clumping and running. Clumping bamboos spread slowly, while running bamboos can spread quickly and need careful control. They grow from underground parts called rhizomes, which can send up new plants.

Bamboos are some of the fastest-growing plants, with some growing up to 910 mm (36 in) in a single day! They can reach heights of over 30 m (100 ft) and grow to their full size in just a few months. Unlike trees, bamboo grows to its full height and width in one season. After a few years, bamboo plants may die and decay.

Bamboo is an important food source for animals like the giant panda, red panda, and bamboo lemurs. Some animals, like mountain gorillas, even eat fermented bamboo sap. The larvae of certain moths also feed on bamboo and are considered a delicacy in some places.

Cultivation

Bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can be used in many ways, from building materials to food. In Brazil, special rules help people grow bamboo to help the environment and the economy.

When harvesting bamboo for building, it is important to pick the right time. Bamboo grows quickly, but it needs to be cut at just the right age, usually after five to seven years. The best time to harvest is a few months before the rainy season, when the bamboo has less sugar in it. This helps prevent pests and keeps the bamboo strong.

Toxicity

Some people can have skin reactions when they touch bamboo plants. These reactions can range from mild itching to more serious problems like swelling around the eyes or trouble breathing.

Bamboo shoots contain a natural toxin that can turn into cyanide inside the body. This can make people feel very sick if the shoots are eaten raw or not cooked well. Cooking bamboo shoots by boiling or steaming for at least 20 minutes makes them safe to eat. People with certain health conditions should avoid bamboo shoots entirely, even when cooked. Wearing gloves and long sleeves when handling bamboo can help prevent skin reactions.

Uses

Culinary

The shoots of most bamboo plants can be eaten either raw or cooked, after removing the tough outer layer. Cooking helps remove any slight bitterness. These shoots are used in many dishes and broths across Asia and are sold in supermarkets in fresh or canned forms.

In some parts of Asia, such as Assam in India, bamboo shoots are fermented and used in local dishes. For example, in Nepal, fermented bamboo shoots mixed with turmeric and oil are cooked with potatoes to make a popular side dish. In Indonesia, bamboo shoots are sliced and boiled with coconut milk to make a dish called gulai rebung. Other dishes include sayur lodeh (mixed vegetables in coconut milk) and lun pia (fried wrapped bamboo shoots with vegetables).

The sap from young bamboo stalks can be fermented to make a sweet drink or wine. Bamboo leaves are also used as wrappers for steamed dumplings, such as Chinese zongzi.

Fuel

Working

Writing surface

In ancient China, bamboo was widely used for writing. Early documents were written on bamboo strips with ink, dating back to the fifth century BC. Before paper was invented, bamboo strips were the main way people wrote and kept records.

Bamboo fiber has been used to make paper since ancient times. Today, some high-quality handmade bamboo paper is still made, and bamboo is a common material for making paper for printing and writing.

Writing pen

Main article: Reed pen

In the past, people in India made pens called Kalam or boru from thin bamboo sticks. They would peel one side and shape the end to make a nib, then dip it in ink for writing.

Textiles

Bamboo fibers are very short, so they are usually turned into fabric using a process called rayon, which involves chemicals. Some products are sold as “bamboo fabric,” but they are actually rayon made from bamboo fibers. Regulations in Canada and the United States now require these products to be labeled as rayon, possibly with “from bamboo” added.

Fabric

Construction

Bamboo is a strong and lightweight building material. It has been used for centuries in many Asian countries to build simple suspension bridges, houses, and even skyscrapers. In places like the Philippines, bamboo is used to make the walls and supports of traditional nipa huts.

Bamboo is also used to make rafts and floating houses in areas with water access. The poles are tied together to support structures that can float on water.

Fishing and aquaculture

Bamboo’s flexibility makes it ideal for making fishing rods, especially the split cane rods used for fly fishing.

Firecrackers

In Malaysia and Indonesia, bamboo has been used to make firecrackers called meriam buluh or bamboo cannons. Water and calcium carbide are put inside a bamboo section, creating acetylene gas that is ignited to produce a loud bang.

Weapons

Bamboo has been used to make weapons for many years and is still used in some Asian martial arts. For example:

• In the Tamil martial art of silambam, fighters use a bamboo staff.
• In Indian gatka, fighters use bamboo staves.
• In Japanese kendo, a bamboo sword called a shinai is used for practice.
• Bamboo is also used to make bows and arrows in Japanese kyūdō.
• Early gunpowder weapons, like the fire lance, were sometimes made from bamboo.

Musical instruments

Indicator of climate change

Kitchenware and other usage

Bamboo is used to make many kitchen tools, such as chopsticks and steamers. It is also used to make bicycles, surfboards, snowboards, and skateboards. Bamboo has been used for centuries to make utensils, cutting boards, furniture, and even floors. It is also used to make jewelry like bracelets and earrings.

In culture

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

China

Bamboo's long life makes it a Chinese symbol of uprightness and an Indian symbol of friendship. In Chinese culture, the bamboo, plum blossom, orchid, and chrysanthemum 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"). Bamboo is regarded as a behavior model of the gentleman, with features such as uprightness, tenacity, and modesty. Bamboo also plays an important role in Buddhism and has been incorporated into Asian cuisines, especially for monks.

Japan

Bamboo is a symbol of prosperity in Japan and is used to make New Year's decorations called kadomatsu. Bamboo forests sometimes surround Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples as part of a sacred barrier. In the folktale Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, princess Kaguya emerges from a shining bamboo section. Bamboo is also known to have survived the atomic bombings of Hiroshima in 1945.

Malaysia

In Malaysia, a story tells of a man who dreams of a beautiful woman while sleeping under a bamboo plant and discovers her inside when he breaks the bamboo stem.

Philippines

In Philippine mythology, a creation account tells of the first man and woman emerging from one half of a split bamboo stem on an island formed after the battle between Sky and Ocean.

Vietnam

Bamboo plays an important part of the culture of Vietnam. It symbolizes the spirit of Vovinam, a Vietnamese martial art, representing coordination between strength and flexibility. Bamboo also represents the Vietnamese nation, symbolizing traits such as hard work, optimism, and unity.

Africa

Tanzania

Tanzania possesses a large diversity of bamboo species.

Bozo

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

Saint Lucia

Bamboo is also the national plant of St. Lucia.

Hawaiian

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

North America

Arundinaria bamboos, known as giant cane or river cane, have been central to the material cultures of Southeastern Native American nations. Among the Cherokee, river cane has been used to make waterproof baskets, mats, fishing poles, flutes, and other items. The Cherokee have initiated efforts to restore this now-rare plant.