Bamboo is naturally found as secondary vegetation in forests, but in some cases, they are the dominant vegetation type. Such is the case in northeast India where bamboo covers many thousands of square kilometers, and on the mountainsides of eastern Africa. Bamboos can also tolerate extreme conditions that most plants can't. The Bambusoideae subfamily consists of both woody and herbaceous bamboos with a total of 1, identified species in different genera.
About species are used commercially, of which 20 are identified as priority species for those wishing to start bamboo plantation. Apart from those commercially important species, many attractive ornamental bamboos are grown in nurseries for landscaping purposes. Bamboo comprises of many different species which all have unique growth rates and characteristics.
Saying that bamboo grows 1 meter a day is misleading as not all bamboo species grow that fast. Therefore, one should always specify the species.
These growth rates can be established in shooting season, and when optimal soil and climate conditions are present. The time-lapse video below for example, also mentions a growth rate of up to 1 meter a day for the Chinese Moso Bamboo Phyllostachys edulis. Another bamboo species which has been reported to have incredible fast growth rates is Madake bamboo Phyllostachys bambusoides.
Herbaceous bamboos are usually small and resemble grass and are only a few centimiters tall, while woody bamboos depending on the species can grow up to 30 m tall and 20 cm in diameter, hence the reason they are often confused for being "trees". The bamboo species Dendrocalamus sinicus is considered the largest bamboo in the world reaching 40 m in height and 30 cm in diameter. An extraordinary example of bamboo's resilience is the fact that it was the only plant to survive the radiation of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima, Japan in The incinerating heat destroyed all trees and other plant life, except for one bamboo grove.
The grove has since been removed, but culms from the grove are preserved in a museum in Hiroshima. If you have any, please let me know. I am doing my final year project on the specie so I need as much as I can on the species.
Thank you for your help. Good luck with your research! I live in Florida In the States and I was wondering if it is possiblle to purchase one of these plants and if it will survive in the hot climates of Centeral Florida?
By the way this post was very useful. Check out our directory of nurseries. Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Since then he has owned and operated two eco-boutiques and written s of articles about bamboo, green living and world travel.
Buy on Amazon: Bamboo for Gardens. Buy on Amazon: Farming Bamboo. Facebook RSS. How fast does bamboo grow? How fast does bamboo grow, and how big does it get? How fast does bamboo spread? Further reading To learn more about the incredible properties of bamboo, check out some of these other interesting articles.
Giant Bamboo: The most massive grasses Moso Bamboo: The king of grasses Best bamboo species for building and construction The most invasive varieties of bamboo Growing Bamboo: A complete how-to guide. Ferdinand Mahiwa on at.
Soil erosion is a key contributor to desertification, the process by which agricultural land becomes desert land, significantly reducing the amount of farmable land globally. The roots of bamboo bind the first foot of topsoil, which reduces erosion. Fast-growing bamboo can be planted near riverbanks to protect communities from flooding and provide economic value, all while keeping the soil healthy.
In areas with frequent earthquakes, bamboo is actually a preferred building material due to its flexibility. Using bamboo instead of wood reduces the demand for timber and by effect, deforestation. Bamboo has long been regarded as a tool in the fight against climate change due to its absorption of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. So how fast does bamboo grow exactly? Pretty fast in the right conditions! At the very least, consider why you should give bamboo straws a chance to bring this versatile grass into your everyday life.
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Your email address will not be published. We take your words seriously. Thank you! It also creates a safer environment for the animals and plants near the bamboo because the farmers can spot them as they go along and take measures not to harm them.
Harvesting bamboo regularly is extremely important for the local eco-system. Cutting down the super tall bamboo allows the sunlight to nourish smaller plants that would be otherwise hidden.
The farmers even mark the bamboo plants with ribbons or spray paints, as seen in the photo below, to ensure that they harvest them at the optimum time for that plant. As mentioned above, bamboo is grass. So, much like your lawn at home, it regenerates when the stalk is cut. Other plants that do need to be uprooted i. This will leave the land much less stable and allow topsoil to be easily washed away during heavy rain or blown away by strong winds.
This soil erosion is dangerous because it can contribute to decreased soil fertility, lower water quality levels, and even mudslides.
Almost everything sold in the US is made in China or another Asian country. Industrious people in China and worldwide have used bamboo for millennia to make items that would improve their lives. This is because bamboo is stronger than wood, brick, or concrete, has a higher tensile strength than steel , and is flexible enough for delicate work.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Bamboo can be used to make anything that you could make from hardwoods. The only difference is that bamboo goods will cost less and be more durable. Source: Kamakura, Wikipedia. Moso bamboo, also known as hairy bamboo or tortoise-shell bamboo or Phyllostachys edulis for the science geeks , is native to China and Taiwan. You can even find it growing in the USA as of ! When left to grow, these yellow and green canes can reach incredible heights, with a large canopy of feathery leaves that starts around 30 ft overhead.
As with all bamboo species, Moso grows fast and can quickly reach heights of over 90 ft. For proof, look at this video series that tracked the growth of Moso bamboo over a two-years:. But the most common type of reproduction for the Moso plant is asexual because it only flowers and seeds roughly once every 50 years.
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