Family: Poaceae
Common name: Bamboo, Common bamboo, Golden bamboo, Striped bamboo,
Bamboo is an ever-green, non-fussy plant that recently moved from the forest to the living room. Now, there are lucky bamboo plants in small bowls, small bunches of bamboo stalks arranged neatly in a circle, long spiral bamboo stalks that grow in oversized pots, water bamboo for the water body in your garden, and the normal, huge bamboo you’ve always seen.
Plant Characteristics
They are one of the fastest-growing plants in the world, sometimes growing as fast as 100 cm in a day.
Bamboo plants can grow to a height of 30-40 meters, forming large clumps of stems very close to each other.
Roots of the bamboo grow horizontally, forming dense mats on the surface, sometimes visible as large structures above the soil. These root rhizomes help in propagation, producing new plants from them.
Bamboo stems, also known as culms, are one of the most defining features of the plant. They are 5-10 cm in diameter, depending on the species and variant, ranging in color from light green to deep green to yellow.
Bamboo stems are divided into segments, which are usually hollow, separated by nodes, which are not solid. This structure helps the Bamboo stems to be flexible and strong, while also conducting the basic functions of transporting water and nutrients for the entire plant.
Leaves of Bamboo are bright green, lance-shaped, and about 15-20 cm long. Petioles that connect the leaves to the stem are very short, sometimes look non-existent.
Bamboo flowers are fascinating and mysterious since they do not flower annuals, or even regularly. While flowering, the entire areas of bamboo flowers together, with small, pale green or yellow flowers that are about 1 cm in diameter.
Flowers are arranged in large clusters that appear only once in 30-50 years, after which the existing clumps might die away. Fruiting does not happen, and propagation is vegetative.
Gargening Tips
Bamboo plants cannot be grown in home gardens, unless there is a large space available. You can grow dwarf variants in small pots, or even lucky bamboo in small containers.
Bamboo plants are grown as ornamental plants in home gardens or parks, as hedge plants to keep areas safe from grazing animals. In large parks, Bamboo trees can grow and flourish, covering large areas very quickly.
Bamboo plants need good sunlight, and well-draining soil. They don’t mind heavy rains, but severe waterlogging can lead to root rot since the roots are very close to the surface.
Once the Bamboo plants are established in the soil, they do not need watering, fertilization, pesticides, or pruning. They are self-sufficient, growing and propagating very quickly.
If you need to restrict Bamboo tree to a certain area, make sure their roots are contained with concrete structures that prevent them from spreading.
The two types of bamboo are ‘clumping’ and ‘running’ types. Clumping type grows slower and is ideal for homes, whereas running type grows so fast that it needs to be controlled. In the wild, bamboo leaves and stalks are food for pandas, rats, chimpanzees and elephants.
Uses of Bamboo
Bamboo shoots are used in cooking in most Asian countries. The hollow stalks of Bamboo are used to cook rice, soups, and tea. Bamboo biryani, cooked inside the stalk is very popular in India.
Bamboo stem is used to make furniture, huts, bridges, scaffolding, pens, fabrics, woodwind instruments, and even weapons.
Young bamboo stems are quite sturdy and can be used as walking sticks, or as stakes for climbing plants. Sap of young bamboo stems is used for making a fermented drink.
Leaves are used for wrapping food items. The hollow stems of Bamboo plants are used for making water bottles. Flexible stems of the plant make good fishing rods.
Propagation
Propagation is through rhizomes and stem cuttings.
Parent plants grow small saplings around them, which can be removed carefully and replanted.
Cuttings with root nodes taken from healthy plants can root in water or soil. Pieces of root or rhizome with nodes can also root well in moist soil.
Photographed at: Multiple locations in Bangalore and Kerala
