bambootower@iitb

Bamboos belong to the grass family Poaceae and subfamily Bambusoidea, which comprises woody and herbaceous plants. Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants and has incredible potential as a sustainable resource. The growth character of Bamboo is of two types: Monopodial, in which roots spread horizontally, maintaining enough space with the parent plant and sympodial, in which roots grow very close to the parent plant. Monopodial are found in temperate climates such as China, Japan and Korea, whereas sympodial is located in the tropical climate of Southeast Asia and South America.

Bamboo plant

Bamboo poles are hollow, round, segmented and jointed. Bamboo culms (stems) consist of internodes (segments) separated by a diaphragm. Depending on the species and climate, bamboo has varied lengths and thicknesses of the internodes. The shape, size and vascular bundles of bamboo culm determine the structure anatomy of Bamboo culm.

Bamboo culm comprises 50% parenchyma, 40% fibre and 10% conducting tissue (Liese, 1998).

How does it grow?

Bamboo, a colony plant, uses its energy to expand roots and grow more shoots in spring. It takes around 60 days for these shoots to emerge from the ground and grow taller and broader. This process stops after 60 days, and energy is directed back to the roots for the growth of other canes. It takes 3-5 years to grow a fully-fledged bamboo culm which can have a length from 10-15 cm to more than 40 m.

Where does it grow?

Bamboo is found in tropical and subtropical areas to mild temperate regions, with the heaviest concentration and the most significant number of species in South East Asia and the Indian and Pacific Oceans islands. It is also found in Taiwan, China and Japan. Although it thrives in the tropical climate, it cheerfully survives frost, ice and snow.

In India, bamboo is naturally found in almost all states, irrespective of the varying climatic conditions. Kashmir is the only exception where bamboo does not grow naturally.

More than 50 per cent of the bamboo species occur in Eastern India - Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal. Other areas rich in bamboo are the Andamans, the Bastar region of Madhya Pradesh and the Western Ghats.

Bamboo Species

India is the second largest producer of the bamboo plant and has 125 indigenous and exotic species of bamboo belonging to 23 genera.

The principal bamboo genera occurring in India are Arundinaria, Bambusa, Chimonobambusa, Dendrocalamus, Dinochloa, Gigantochloa, Indocalamus, Ochlandra, Drepanostachyum, Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus, Pseudoxytenanthera, Schizostachyum, and Thamnocalamus.

Bamboo's geographical distribution is governed mainly by rainfall, temperature, altitude and soil conditions. Most bamboos require a temperature from 8°C to 36°C, a minimum annual rainfall of 1000 mm and high atmospheric humidity for good growth.

Generally, the genera Bambusa and Dendrocalamus are found under tropical conditions. In contrast, Arundinaria and its allies occur in the temperate region and are, by far, most common on high elevations in the western and eastern Himalayas. Dendrocalamus strictus is predominant in dry deciduous forests, while Bambusa bamboos flourish best in moist deciduous forests.

The essential bamboo of the semi-evergreen forests of the Andamans is Gigantochloa rostrata. In the eastern region, i.e., West Bengal, Assam and the north-eastern Himalayas, the commercially essential bamboos are Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii and Melocanna baccifera.

Varieties of bamboo found in India

Bambusa tulda

One of the most valuable varieties of bamboo, Bambusa is native to the Indian subcontinent. Also famous as Indian timber or Bengal bamboo, it can reach a height of 15-25 feet and has a dull green colour.

Bambusa balcooa

Another bamboo variety native to northeast India is also known as Female bamboo. It can grow up to 39-73 feet tall and 6-15 cm in diameter. The stems of this plant are helpful in bridges and fishing and agriculture implements, woven mats, and the formation of rikshaw hood frames.

Dendrocalamus giganteus

It also goes by dragon bamboo or giant bamboo and grows up to 90-100 feet tall. In India, you can find this in Uttaranchal, West Bengal, Sikkim in the northeast, and Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu in South India.

Dendrocalamus strictus

This variety is also famous as male bamboo or Narbas, one of the most commonly used varieties of Indian bamboo. It can attain a height of 30-70 feet. People use them to make tool handles, chicks, agricultural equipment, furniture, mats, and baskets.

Bambusa polymorpha

This evergreen variety of giant and green clumping bamboo has edible shoots with a sweet taste. It can reach up to 20-40 feet in height. Apart from helping make furniture, handicrafts, and house construction, this bamboo can also be used in landscaping.

Bambusa arundinacea

This bamboo species originates in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka and can grow up to 20-50 feet tall with a shiny bright green colour and thorny stems. The young shoots are eaten as food in some parts of India. The leaves can also serve as fodder. This variety occupies 15% of all bamboo in India.

Bambusa strita

Native to Indo-china, this bamboo can grow 17-32 feet in height and up to 4-8 centimetres in diameter. The cultivation of this bamboo takes place all over the country. Apart from its decorative purpose, the plant also has uses in making furniture, toys, and construction.

Bambusa nana

Another variety of bamboo that is very beautiful is helpful as a screening. It can grow up to 20- 30 feet in height and is a prevalent decorative plant owing to its attractive foliage. These plants also have edible shoots.

Melocanna baciferra

This evergreen variety of bamboo can reach a height of 32-65 feet. Commonly known as berry bamboo, it is another bamboo native to India that grows mainly as an ornamental plant. This plant occupies larger spaces due to its aggressive growth. Due to its strength, this variety is primarily helpful in construction.

Gigantochloa rostrata

Another evergreen type of bamboo is perennial in nature. This variety of bamboo is tufted with culms that can go as high as 16-26 feet and have a diameter of 3-5 cm. Helpful in making hats and baskets; you can find this throughout east India and in some parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

Uses

The strength of the culms, their straightness and lightness, combined with hardness, range in size, hollowness, long fibre and easy working qualities, make the bamboo suitable for various purposes. Whether it is the tender shoots used for pickles and curries, the slivers used for toothpicks and meat barbecues, ribs for fans or slats for sunscreens, or the dried culm as the sturdy lathi and construction of the so-called bamboo houses, the versatility of bamboo is legendary.