Common Bamboo
Bambusa vulgaris
Grass family (Poaceae)
1001 utensils
Bamboo is a collective name for a group of about 1200 plant species, a genus that sits within the grass family. The characteristics of the different bamboo species can be great.
The tallest woody bamboos can reach 50 meters high whilst the shortest does not exceed tens of centimeters. Except for Europe they naturally occur worldwide, from sea level to high in the Himalayas and Andes. Some bamboo species are restricted to the tropics and subtropics, and therefore can only survive winters at this latitude by being overwintered under cover, others by contrast are completely hardy. There are species that flower very rarely, for example, only after 150 years and then die.
Young bamboo shoots are edible after cooking but for pandas uncooked bamboo is their staple diet. Woody bamboos can be used to make 1001 different utensils, from floors to furniture.
Themes
The very young bamboo shoots are used in cooking, harvested before they become woody. They are also made into chopsticks. Seeds of some species are also eaten.
Bamboo is one of the most useful and practical plants; providing water storage, food, raw materials for household and garden use, musical instruments and more. Bamboo wood is hard, strong, flexible, light and easily split. Split bamboo can be made into mats, hats, baskets, umbrellas, brushes, paper, etc.
Owners of dogs use the leaves of Bambusa vulgaris to treat diarrhoea and to control ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas.
Details
| Description: | Herb, up to 10-20 m. |
|---|---|
| Distributions: | Asia, south america but also occurs frequently in other (sub)tropical regions |
| Habitat: | Tropical rainforest. |
| Hardiness: | 34 - 41 f (tender - cool or frost-free glasshouse) |
| Flower color: | Green |
| Notes on flowers: | Most bamboo flower only once every 60-120 years; after flowering all the bamboos belonging to the same species die - this happens across the world at the same time! |