Bamboo - A Plant Of Quality And Versatility

Some of the larger growths, known as timber bamboo are used in home construction in many southeast Asian countries and are used to make structures such as garden gates and gazebos. It is often used in furniture and with the proper preparation is used to create quality wood flooring. Today, bamboo can be found in a variety of cultures as the different grass species can grow and thrive in a variety of climates.

The young grass growths, when they poke their heads through the ground are processed as food as bamboo shoots and annually some of the species are tapped for their sap, much like maple trees which can be turned into soft drinks or fermented into wine a liquors.

Bamboo - Vast Forests Present Danger Of Fires

When bamboo plants die, and are left in the fields, they are extremely flammable and through history there have been many large fires that consumed hundreds of acres of the dried grass. Originally harvested by hand, due to its numerous uses is brought in by large commercial industries. Its wild growth makes containing it in confined areas and even the bamboo plantations operated for commercial purposes require regular maintenance to prevent the plants from spreading into areas occupied by other plants.

There are plants similar to bamboo that grow throughout the world including sugar cane, that has a similar appearance. Despite the reed-like growth, it is not true bamboo, although there are some species that are not native in North America as well as different varieties that did not exist even 50 years ago.

Botanists have used cross pollination as well as grafting of different species of bamboo to create new species, often using the plant's flowers to create the new varieties. Many of the new varieties are used in warm climates around the world to help spread the use of bamboo to many other countries.