Bamboo plants are among the world’s most useful and versatile plants. Unlike trees, bamboo grows at an astonishing rate of up to 2 inches per hour. This makes it the world’s fastest growing plant.

Even though their height can be enormous, they are not part of the tree family species. In fact, they are evergreen grasses. Currently, there are over a thousand species and nearly a hundred different grass subgenera. As different species can be used for different things, this variety helps to ensure the lasting survival of a bamboo plant.

In several eastern countries, such as, India, China and Japan, bamboo is highly valuable. As the bamboo plants are used as food, wood and fuel, the fast growing rate makes this renewable resource a cornerstone of those societies. Bamboo, when properly treated, can be extremely durable and long lasting, it provides an easy solution to many problems.

One of which, is that it is cultivated has a highly desirable wood product. Bamboo can create massive, stable scaffoldings, provide a base wood over slower growing trees, and provide ornamental value to both the interior and exterior of homes. In addition to construction material for homes, bamboo is also used on smaller wood products people use on a daily basis, such as chop sticks, tables, cutting boards, sushi bowls and other kitchen accessories.

When bamboo plants are young, the shoots can be eaten from many different varieties. It is important to note, that not all species of bamboo shoots can be ingested. For example, the giant bamboo plant contain cyanide within its shoots. Cyanide can be lethal to humans.

Many types of animals survive by eating bamboo. Most notably is the panda, which only eats bamboo stalks and leaves.

Even with all of modern uses of bamboo, bamboo plants do not come without faults. The bamboo plant, for reasons yet proven by science, tend to have mass flowering and fruiting seasons. This is most notable in the Bay of Bengal, where the bamboo plants bloom once every 30 to 35 years. This mass blooming and fruiting cases severe consequences to human populations nearby. Rats are attracted to the fruit as it falls to the ground. In many cases these rats are known to carry diseases that are very harmful to humans. This can lead to many human deaths, as there is little that can be done to stop the spread of disease once it has begun. With the increased technology of today’s society, solutions to the infestation and disease problems are being addressed, in a manner that will preserve the bamboo plant during its fruiting season.

Because of its versatility, bamboo is grown and harvested in many different regions throughout the world. Bamboo is most commonly found in East Asia, although they can thrive in sub-Saharan Africa, North and South America. When people think of Bamboo, they most often think of it as the stuff panda bears eat, however, you can now see that it is used extensively as building materials and certain bamboo plants offer a good source of food.