What Is Bamboo?

Bamboo is a type of true grass that is one of the largest grasses in the world. They are fast-growing, woody plants that have a high cultural significance in East and Southeast Asia. Bamboo is used for a number of different applications, and is a major food source for the dwindling population of Great Panda bears.

Scientific Classification

Bamboo is part of the family of plants known as Poaceae, which is more commonly referred to as the true grasses. The subfamily that bamboos belong to is Bambusoideae.

Types

There are many different types of bamboo, ranging from various smaller species to the largest of them all, the Giant Bamboo (also the largest true grass in the world). In total, there are roughly a thousand different species of the plant.

Growth

Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world, although individual growth varies among species. They grow an average of about 60 cm per day thanks to a unique system of rhizomes.

Features

Bamboo is a heavy wood plant that is hollow in the center. The wood is hard, which makes it great for use in the production of furniture and certain fabrics.

Myths

Bamboo is an important plant that is part of various Eastern creation myths. Stories from Malaysia and the Philippines, for example, tell of the first man and woman emerging from bamboo.