Bamboo - A Type of Grass
When one hears the word bamboo, it may conjure up images of green shoots next to hungry pandas or Zen gardens with walls made of living, growing bamboo.bambus What many people don’t realize is that bamboo is actually a type of grass, and this fact helps explain why it can grow so quickly and so tall.bambus
China is the world’s leading bamboo producer, with a wide range of indigenous species.bambus The country’s south and southwest regions fall within the tropical monsoon climatic region, which is optimal for bamboo growth.bambus However, the inland central and eastern provinces also have adequate conditions for bamboo cultivation.
Unlike most woody plants, bamboos are sympodial (producing buds at short intervals along the stem) and monopodial (having single, erect stem).bambus Sympodial growth pattern allows for efficient clonal propagation of the plant, as well as dense bamboo forests.bambus It also contributes to the plant’s resilience in the face of natural disturbances. Bamboos are the fastest growing perennial plants in the world, able to grow up to 60 cm per day in the right conditions.
This is largely due to their unique rhizome-dependent system, which enables them to send up shoots from the ground in addition to from their leaves.bambus It is this system that makes bamboos such a versatile and sustainable resource for many environmental, economic, and cultural applications.bambus
In order to understand how the rhizome-dependent system works, researchers at Idaho State University conducted a DNA analysis of dozens of different bamboo species from around the globe.bambus By comparing the DNA of each specimen, scientists can construct a “family tree” of relationships, called a phylogeny.bambus This phylogeny can help researchers determine how bamboos evolved, when they originated, and how they could have spread across the globe.
The research team’s work was made possible by the generous assistance of several key individuals.bambus The ISU Molecular Research Core Facility assisted with DNA sequencing, and the EGG bioinformatics group helped with the data collection.bambus Bamboo is a diverse group of evergreen perennial plants that make up the subfamily Bambusoideae of the grass family Poaceae. The species typically die at or near freezing temperatures, but their rhizomes remain alive and send up new shoots the following spring.
In Chinese culture, the bamboo symbolizes humility and strength.bambus The bamboo, along with plum blossoms, orchids, and chrysanthemums, form the Four Gentlemen—an emblem of virtue that is cherished in Chinese society. Bamboos are often cultivated in gardens, parks, and even in residential and commercial areas as they bring beauty and elegance to the surrounding area. They also provide a wide variety of practical uses, including being a food source and building material. Additionally, bamboo forests can mitigate climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and contributing to soil erosion control. Despite the myriad of benefits, bamboos are facing some serious challenges. Overharvesting, habitat destruction, and unregulated industrial practices can damage the ecological balance of these plants.