From the foothills of the Himalayas, through the tropical islands of Indonesia, all the way upto Japan, many varieties of
bamboo are to be found.
Bamboos are giant grasses – some of them are short (eight to ten feet in height), while others grow to over a hundred feet! Bamboos grow in thick clumps, with very many stems in a single group. Bamboo is a very fast growing plant, taking at most one or two years to reach maturity. In fact, bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the entire world. They form thick foliage, under which little else grows… Bamboos seldom flower, and the frequency of flowering also varies greatly from one species to another.
Bamboo shoots are edible, and are used as an ingredient in many dishes. Uses for the bamboo have also been found in the (ancient) Ayurvedic system of medicine.
Bamboos have hollow stems which are fibrous and heard skinned – and this accounts for the bamboo plant’s unique properties (it is both lightweight and durable), and its widespread use as a (inexpensive) building and construction material. Bamboo stems are used for bamboo fencing, suspension bridges, house stilts and scaffolding for buildings, and even as water pipes for irrigating fields and gardens. And bamboo is also popular as a weapon in the various martial arts systems.
Nowadays, bamboos are also used for ornamentation purposes. In an era where natural materials are being promoted, it is environmentally friendly; and bamboo screens and blinds are used for interior decoration.