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Bamboo the fastest growing plant on earth a research report by Mr. .Allah Dad Khan Former Director General Agriculture Extension Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province Peshawar

Bamboo Plant:

Bamboo /bæmˈbuː/ (Bambuseae) is a tribe of flowering perennial evergreen plants in the grass

family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of

the grass family. In bamboos, the intermodal regions of the stem are hollow and the vascular bundles in the cross section are scattered throughout the stem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement.

Origin ofBamboo:

The plant known as bamboo to the entire world has been around and used for centuries. Bamboo was

first found and used in China more than 5000 years ago, which is why the woody plant conjures up

images of pandas eating shoots and leaves in the Orient. Even though its many uses are only just

becoming widely known, the bamboo plant as an alternative material began long before “going green”

became a trend.

Records dating back more than seven thousand years talk about products made of bamboo such as

arrows, paper, building materials, and books. Because of its origins, the current way it is used, and the

economic sustainability of the plant, bamboo is an excellent resource. This woody grass currently grows

throughout the world, but the origin of bamboo is believed to be ancient China. Bamboo is finally being

utilized in all walks of life. From dishware to clothing, you can find a bamboo alternative in almost every

industry. In today’s environmentally conscious society, we have finally begun to utilize bamboo across

the board. The species of bamboo that we know today evolved from prehistoric grasses between thirty

and forty million years ago, long after the extinction of the dinosaurs. It then became the major food

source for herbivorous animals, eventually becoming a food source for the modern human being as well

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Where Bamboo Grows

While bamboo grows everywhere in the world except those places with extremely cold climates

Bamboo Myth:

Bamboo's long life makes it a Chinese symbol of longevity, while in India it is a symbol of friendship. In

Japan, bamboo forests often surround Shinto shrines as a sacred protection against evil spirits. In

Vietnam, bamboo is a symbol for the soul and often represents ideas of hard-working, optimism, unity

and adaptability. Vietnamese culture is sometimes referred to as "bamboo culture." A Vietnamese

proverb states, "When bamboo is old, the bamboo sprouts appear," the meaning being that Vietnam will

never be annihilated--if the previous generation dies, the children will take their place.

Several Asian culture believe that humanity emerged from a bamboo stem. In the Philippine creation

myth, legend states that the first man and first woman were split open from a bamboo stem that

emerged on an island created after the battle of the elemental forces. In Malaysian legends a similar

story includes a man who dreams of a beautiful woman while sleeping under a bamboo plant; he wakes

up and breaks the bamboo stem, discovering the woman inside. The Japanese folktale "Tale of the

Bamboo Cutter" (TaketoriMonogatari) tells the story of a princess from the Moon emerging from a

section of shining bamboo. In Hawaiian legend, bamboo is considered the corporal form of the Polynesian creator god, Kane Milohai.

Cultures:Bamboo Culture Festival has become popular in recent years. There are many such festivals

held in different places across China each year.The ethnic group, the Bozo of West Africa, take their

name from the Bambara phrase bo-so, which means "bamboo house”. Bamboo is the national plant

of St. Lucia.After being used in the household, bamboo became known as one of the “Three Friends of

Winter,” contributing to Japanese gardens as a symbol of flexibility. Bamboo is one of the strongest and

most revered spiritual elements in Japanese culture, and symbolizes not only flexibility, but also strength

and resilience. Bamboo groves and forests are often found as a protective surrounding for shrines and

temples.

Bamboo and Environment

Bamboo is conducive to fresh air and helps reduce greenhouse gases. Another "green" attribute of

bamboo is that it produces 40% more oxygen than a comparable-sized hardwood forest. Moreover,

bamboo produces greater biomass and helps restore soil fertility and reduce soil erosion.: Bamboo

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flooring is an excellent choice for a new floor, giving a warm, comforting ambience with a

contemporary yet timeless appeal. Bamboo floors look beautiful, are practical and eco friendly.

History of Bamboo on line:

1. 16th-17th Century BC :During the Shang Dynasty, bows, arrows, and other household items were

made using bamboo.

2. 206 B.C.-A.D.220 : (In the Han Dynasty) bamboo was used for papermaking because it produced

high-quality paper and was inexpensive - three tons of bamboo could yield one ton of paper pulp.

Bamboo is still an important raw material for papermaking today. Some 1,600 years ago, people

wrote with brushes on xuan paper made from young bamboo. Xuan paper is still popular for Chinese

calligraphy and paintings.

3.140 BC/134 BC and 118 BC: In 1972, ancient Chinese writing tablets made of bamboo strips, called

Yinqushan Han Slips, were discovered in burial tombs. Several important writings were discovered,

including the lost chapters from the Six Strategies.

3.105 AD:Cai Lun of China made the world’s first plant tissue paper out of bamboo.Perhaps the most

important use of bamboo in history is its part in the invention of paper. Paper was invented by Cai Lun in

105 AD. He mixed Chinese bamboo plant fibers with pulp from a mulberry tree used water and then

strained the material to make the first paper. This is one of China's four great inventions.

4.265-316 AD :During the Jin Dynasty, a book is written detailing the difference species and uses of

bamboo.

5.1368 AD: The Ming Dynasty, which lasted almost three centuries, used bamboo as the main bedding

for the empire.

6.1486 AD: During the Ming Dynasty, bamboo charcoal was created. Emissions are not nearly as bad as

traditional charcoal, resulting in purer air for us all!

7.1894 AD: A patent (No. 8274) is filed in England for the first bamboo bicycles. They were shown at the

London Stanley Show of 1894.

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8.1947 AD: Known for setting trends around the world, Gucci helped to jump-start the bamboo craze

back in 1947 when they manufactured the first bamboo handbag.

9.1997 AD: The International Network for Bamboo and Rattan, an international organization dedicated

to improving the social, economic, and environmental benefits of bamboo and rattan, is established by

treaty.

10.2010 AD: In Mizoram, India, 10, 736 people set the world record for the largest bamboo dance.

Biggest Producer of Bamboo in World:

China is known as the Kingdom of Bamboo because it has the most bamboo of any country in the world.

More than 400 species of bamboo, one third of all the known species in the world, grow in China. China

leads the world in the amount of area planted with bamboo, the number of bamboo trees, and the

amount of bamboo wood produced every year. The areas that produce the most bamboo are south of

the Changjiang (Yangtze) River, and the biggest producers are Sichuan, An hui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Jiangsu provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Bamboo in Pakistan

Bamboos are of limited diversity in Pakistan. Three species grow naturally in Pakistan.

Arundinariafalcata in the NW Himalayas at 1,200-2,000 m. It occurs in the undergrowth in forests of

oak, firs and mixed trees, usually on northern slopes or in ravines. It is part of a wider gene pool through

the Himalayas. It is used for making baskets, mats and pipes. Bambusabambos. It is rare in the Ravi river

eastward. It is absent in the hills. This species is extensively used for construction.

Dendrocalamusstrictus is found in Punjab and Kashmir. It is found also in mixed vegetation on Marghalla hills surrounding Islamabad. It is used for construction and a variety of purposes.

This forms part of a gene pool extending across Hindustan and usually growing below 1,200 m. In

Pakistan, the resources are shrinkingBamboo plantations have been raised on good agricultural lands in

Sargodha, Jhang, Khoshab and Mandibhaudin districts of Punjab province in Pakistan. Most of these

plantations are on 0.5 acres of lands. In Chunian sub division of Kasur district, small farmers have also

successfully established small bamboo groves of 4-10 acres area. Bamboo plantation area increases or

decreases with the market demand in the domestic as well as in the Middle East markets.

Dandrocalamusstictus, Bambusatulda and Dandrocalamushamiltonii are the major species grown on

private farmlands.Almost 100 percent bamboo resources are on private farms. Farmers in Punjab either

raise pure stand of bamboo or manage bamboo plantations with agricultural crops. Most of the farmers

use rhizomes for planting bamboos. Shoot cuttings are also used for bamboo cultivation in Pakistan.

Research studies conducted at Pakistan Forest Institute, Peshawar FRA WP 128 Country Report on

Bamboo Resources Pakistan indicate that for maximum production, bamboo should be grown as pure

crop at 2x2 m spacing. However, agricultural crops can be grown for some years if plant spacing is kept

greater than 2x2 m.Average growing stock of bamboo grown on farmlands is estimated about 8 tons/per

hectare. More than 66 percent of the growing stock is considered commercial growing stock having

clum diameter of more than 5 cm. More than 80 percent of the growing stock consist of three major species i.eDandrocalamusstictus, Bambusatulda and Dandrocalamushamiltonii.

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Arundinariafalcata It is used for making baskets, mats and pipes.

BambusabambosThis species is extensively used for construction.

B. multiplex in the plains of Punjab is a hedge bamboo.

Dendrocalamusstrictus It is used for construction and a variety of purposes.

Dendrocalamushamiltonii is used for construction and ladder manufacturing and

scaffoldings

Bambusatulda used for construction purposes.

Bamboo Propagation

Bamboo is propagated by taking pieces from a bamboo plant and keeping them alive for long enough to

for them to grow and form new plants. This can start almost immediately, though may take as long as a

year or two, depending on the bamboo species, the method used and the environmental conditions.

Some bamboo species are very easy to propagate, and others are di fficult and require great attention to

detail. It is important to select well-grown healthy material of the right age and state of development for

the propagation method used. It should be free from pests and diseases and protected from drying

during transport and storage. Careful balance of moisture and drainage in the propagation medium, and

high humidity are essential for good results in all but the easiest to propagate of bamboo species. Warmth and good light levels are also required.

Basic propagation techniques for bamboo plants include...

Growing bamboo from divisions. Bamboo plants growing in pots or in the ground can be divided to

produce new plants. This is best done in spring or early summer. The idea is to divide the underground

system of rhizomes and roots into 'offsets' of one or more culms. A sharp saw or spade can be used.

Some bamboo species are very easy to do this with, and a single culm with healthy rhizome and buds is

enough to generate a new clump. Generally, it is better to have two or more culms joined at the base, at

the rhizome neck. This combination of 'mother' and 'daughter' culms can produce bigger plants faster

than any other method of propagation for bamboo plants. However the removal of too many of these

offsets from the plant can damage the remainder of the clump, because bamboo stores much of it's vital

energy in its rhizomes and lower culms.

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Growing bamboo from layering. Bamboo culms can be pulled down to the ground and covered with soil

and mulch and new plants will form at the nodes. This is the easiest and most reliable way to propagate

bamboo plants from layering. By leaving the culm attached to the parent plant, the minimum of

maintenance care is required, but it can take one or two years to for some species to form plants strong

enough to be transplanted. Alternatively the whole culm (with or without the rhizome attached), can be

removed from the plant and layered in a nursery situation. This can produce new plants quickly but

requires more skill and better aftercare.

Air-layering (or mar cottage) can also be used to generate bamboo propagates. Instead of pulling the

bamboo culm down to the propagating medium (the ground), the medium is applied to the culm at the

nodes and is wrapped and tied in place. A soil -less medium such as coir or a potting mix can be used.

Growing bamboo from cuttings. Bamboo plants can be grown from cuttings, as are many other types of

plants. This method is popular, perhaps because it is lighter work than the other methods described, but

often produces lower numbers of smaller plants. Single node cuttings can be placed straight into pots ,

but this method of propagation requires both the highest level of skill and of aftercare for the more

difficult species. This may involve the use of a controlled environment as in a greenhouse, though

cuttings from some bamboo species are easy to strike even in a poor medium in a warm shady place.

Growing bamboo from seed. We get a surprising number of enquiries from people who are looking for

bamboo seed. Bamboo is known for it's unusual flowering patterns. Some bamboos are said to never or

almost never flower. Others flower almost constantly. But most seem to have developed long and regular

flowering periods that vary considerably from species to species, though range typically from thirty to

one hundred and twenty years. This makes growing bamboo from seed a rare opportunity to select new

strains, varieties or even species of bamboo, and to clone them by the methods of vegetative propagation that are normally used by bamboo growers.

Economic Sustainability

Bamboo has been used through history not only because of the strength of the material, but also

through the renewable prospects. Through history, wood has become more and more scarce, simply

because to produce a full grown tree can take up to sixty years, and then another sixty years time for a

replacement. Species of bamboo equal to the height and width of a tree take as little as s ixty days to mature completely.

Bamboo is also easy to grow, because of the root systems. Running bamboo species are especially easy

to grow, as they produce several shoots at a time, and will take over as much room as they possibly can. Bamboo is also difficult to get rid of, unless it is completely plowed under.

The unknown building material and resource of the future, bamboo has had a long and rich history. It

will be used for years to come in everything from housing to bed sheets, and even more as more

information is learned about this amazing plant.

Pruning

Bamboo like other plants requires some pruning to maintain its attractiveness. Bamboo culms live only

to about 15 years. Once each year we should remove older unattractive culms and cut off any dead or

unattractive branches.

We can prune bamboo without fear of damaging. We may cut just above a node, so as not to leave a

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stub that will die back and look unsightly. If we cut back the top, we may want to also shorten some of the side branches so the plant will look more balanced, not leaving long branches at the top.

Harvesting

Bamboo used for construction purposes must be harvested when the culms reach their greatest strength

and when sugar levels in the sap are at their lowest, as high sugar content increases the ease and rate of pest infestation.

Harvesting of bamboo is typically undertaken according to the following cycles:

1) Life cycle of the culm: As each individual culm goes through a 5– to 7-year life cycle, culms are ideally

allowed to reach this level of maturity prior to full capacity harvesting. The clearing out or thinning of

culms, particularly older decaying culms, helps to ensure adequate light and resources for new growth. Well-maintained clumps may have a productivity three to four times that of an unharvested wild clump.

2) Life cycle of the culm: Consistent with the life cycle described above, bamboo is harvested from two to three years through to five to seven years, depending on the species.

3) Annual cycle: As all growth of new bamboo occurs during the wet season, disturbing the clump during

this phase will potentially damage the upcoming crop. Also during this high rainfall period, sap levels are

at their highest, and then diminish towards the dry season. Picking immediately prior to the wet/growth

season may also damage new shoots. Hence, harvesting is best at the end of the dry season, a few months prior to the start of the wet.

4) Daily cycle: During the height of the day, photosynthesis is at its peak, producing the highest levels of

sugar in sap, making this the least ideal time of day to harvest. Many traditional practitioners believe the

best time to harvest is at dawn or dusk on a waning moon. This practice makes sense in terms of both moon cycles, visibility, and daily cycles.

Leaching

Leaching is the removal of sap after harvest. In many areas of the world, the sap levels in harvested

bamboo are reduced either through leaching or postharvest photosynthesis. Examples of this practice include:

1. Cut bamboo is raised clear of the ground and leant against the rest of the clump for one to two weeks until leaves turn yellow to allow full consumption of sugars by the plant.

2. A similar method is undertaken, but with the base of the culm standing in fresh water, either in a

large drum or stream to leach out sap.

3. Cut culms are immersed in a running stream and weighted down for three to four weeks.

4. Water is pumped through the freshly cut culms, forcing out the sap (this method is often used in conjunction with the injection of some form of treatment).

In the process of water leaching, the bamboo is dried slowly and evenly in the shade to avoid cracking in the outer skin of the bamboo, thereby reducing opportunities for pest infestation.

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Durability of bamboo in construction is directly related to how well it is handled from the moment of

planting through harvesting, transportation, storage, design, construction and maintenance. Bamboo

harvested at the correct time of year and then exposed to ground contact or rain, will break down just as quickly as incorrectly harvested material.

Nutrition:

The main nutrients in bamboo shoots are protein, amino acid, fat, sugar and inorganic salt. They are rich in protein, containing between 1.49 and 4.04 grams (average 2.65g) per 100g of fresh bamboo shoots. The bamboo protein produces eight essential and two semi-essential amino acids. Although the fat content is comparatively low (0.26-0.94%), it is still higher than in many other vegetables, and the shoots contain rich essential fatty acids. The total sugar content, 2.5% on average, is lower than that in other vegetables. The water content is 90% or more.

Vegetables (100g)

Water (g)

Protein (g)

Fat (g)

Total Sugar (g)

Heat (J)

Crude Fiber (g)

Ash Content (g)

Bamboo shoots* 90.86 2.65 0.49 2.50 10.45 0.58 0.88

Chinese cabbage 93.00 1.30 0.20 3.40 8.78 1.20 1.00

Pakchoi 94.50 1.30 0.30 2.30 7.11 0.60. 1.00

Amaranth 89.00 3.40 0.30 3.70 12.97 1.30 2.30

Spinach 93.40 1.90 0.20 2.00 7.11 1.00 1.40

Celery 94.30 2.20 0.10 1.40 6.27 1.00 1.00

Lettuce 96.40 0.60 0.10 1.90 4.60 0.40 0.60

Garlic sprout 86.40 1.20 0.30 9.70 19.24 1.80 0.60

Onion 88.30 1.80 0.00 8.00 16.31 1.10 0.80

Pumpkin 91.00 0.50 0.10 6.90 12.97 0.80 0.70

Tomato 95.20 0.70 0.30 2.80 7.11 0.40 0.60

White turnip 93.40 0.70 0.10 4.10 8.36 1.00 0.70

Potato 81.60 1.90 0.00 14.00 27.61 0.70 1.20

Average 91.38 1.45 0.16 5.06 11.54 0.94 0.99

Note: the item with * is the average number of 27 bamboo species

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Uses ofBamboo in World:

With the economic development and the improvement of people’s living standards, demand for natural

foods, especially organic food, has greatly increased. Moso bamboo does not contain toxic substances

and its products are made in strict accordance with the food safety standards, so it is an ideal resource

for natural foods.Humans aren't alone in their consumption of bamboo. Panda bear fans know it as the

primary food source for giant pandas.

1. Food and Food Materials

a. The first exposure most people in the western world have to bamboo is probably as part of a chinese

(or other East Asian) meal! The shoots of bamboo are often used in many Asian dishes, and are readily

available sliced in fresh and canned form from most supermarkets. The properties of bamboo shoots

were recorded in the book of Compendium of MateriaMedica, a pharmaceutical text written during the

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), with the following words: "It’s slightly cold, sweet, non-toxic, and it quenches thirst, benefits the liquid circulatory system, supplements Qi, and can be served as a daily dish."

The shoots that have turned a little fibrous are fermented, dried, and ground to sand-sized particles to

prepare a garnish known as hendua. It is also cooked with tender pumpkin leaves to make sag green

leaves.. In Japan, the bamboo shoot is called the King of Forest Vegetables.

b. The sap of young stalks can also be tapped to make a sweet wine called ulanzi.

c.Continuing the culinary theme, larger bamboo stalks, because of their hollowness, are often used as cooking vessels. The food can be placed in the stalk, and then cooked directly over the flame.

d. Similarly, steamed tea is sometimes rammed into bamboo hollows to produce compressed forms of Pu-erh tea. Cooking food in bamboo is said to give the food a subtle but distinctive taste.

e.In addition, bamboo is frequently used for cooking utensils within many cultures, and is used in the

manufacture of chopsticks.

f.In Indonesia, they are sliced thin and then boiled with santan (thick coconut milk) and spices to make a

dish called gulairebung. Other recipes using bamboo shoots are sayurlodeh (mixed vegetables in coconut milk) and lunpia (sometimes written lumpia: fried wrapped bamboo shoots with vegetables).

The shoots of some species contain toxins that need to be leached or boiled out before they can be

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eaten safely

g. Pickled bamboo, used as a condiment, may also be made from the pith of the young shoots. Pickled

bamboo shoots (Nepali: tama) are cooked with black-eyed beans as a delicacy food in Nepal. Many

Nepalese restaurant around the world serve this dish as aloobodi tama. Fresh bamboo shoots are sliced

and pickled with mustard seeds and turmeric and kept in glass jar in direct sunlight for the best taste. It

is used alongside many dried beans in cooking during winter months. Baby shoots (Nepali: tusa) of a very different variety of bamboo (Nepali: Nigalo) native to Nepal is cooked as a curry in Hilly regions ‘

h.India, the tender shoots are grated into juliennes and fermented to prepare kardi. The name is derived

from the Sanskrit word for bamboo shoot, karira. This fermented bamboo shoot is used in various

culinary preparations, notably amil, a sour vegetable soup. It is also made into pancakes using rice

flour as a binding agent.

i. Bamboo vinegar :When bamboo is heated at very high temperature in an airless vessel, i t becomes

charcoal, which is used like other charcoal products, as a fuel component, a deodorizer, or an absorbent.

The vapor that comes off the heated bamboo can be condensed to produce a liquid known as bamboo

vinegar. It gets this name from the high content of acetic acid (the main component of ordinary

fermented vinegar), though this ingredient is accompanied by many other compounds, especially

phenols, such as guaiacol and cresol. Bamboo vinegar has been produced in Japan (where it is

called chikusaku-eki) for many years and is used medicinally to treat eczema, atopic dermatitis, and other skin diseases; it is most commonly applied by adding to bath water

2.Fibre : One of the more recent uses for Bamboo is as a fibre for making clothing fabric. In this

incarnation, bamboo has been found to have several desirable properties; it is very light and extremely

soft, making it very comfortable to wear; it also wicks moisture away from the skin, making it ideal

clothing for carrying out exercise in (i.e. yogo, or jogging) or as a material for baby clothing and

accessories.

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3.Furniture : Bamboo has a long history of use in Asian furniture. Chinese bamboo furniture is a distinct

style based on a millennia-long tradition.Several manufacturers offer bamboo bicycles and skateboards.

Due to its flexibility, bamboo is also used to make fishing rods. The split cane rod is especially prized

for fly fishing. Bamboo has been traditionally used in Malaysia as a firecracker called ameriambuluh or

bamboo cannon. Four-foot-long sections of bamboo are cut, and a mixture of water and calcium carbide

are introduced. The resulting acetylene gas is ignited with a stick, producing a loud bang. Bamboo can be

used in water desalination.cA bamboo filter is used to remove the salt from seawater.

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4.Paper :Bamboo fiber has been used to make paper in China since early times. A high-quality,

handmade paper is still produced in small quantities. Coarse bamboo paper is still used to make spirit

money in many Chinese communities.[30]

Bamboo pulps are mainly produced in China, Myanmar, Thailand and India, and are used in printing and

writing papers.[31] The most common bamboo species used for paper

are Dendrocalamusasper and Bamboo bluemanea. It is also possible to make dissolving pulp from

bamboo. The average fiber length is similar to hardwoods, but the properties of bamboo pulp are closer

to softwoodpulps due to it having a very broad fiber length distribution.[31] With the help of molecular

tools, it is now possible to distinguish the superior fiber-yielding species/varieties even at juvenile stages

of their growth, which can help in unadulterated merchandise production.

5. Asian martial arts :In the ancient Tamil martial art of Silambam, fighters would hit each other rapidly

with bamboo sticks.In the Japanese martial art Kendo, bamboo is used to make the Shinai sword.A

bamboo stick can be made into a simple spear by sharpening one of the ends.In archery, the longbow

and recurve bow limbs are commonly crafted with flat ground bamboo, and also used to make superior

weapons for bowhunting and target archery.History's first gunpowder-based weapons, such as the fire

lance, were made of bamboo.

6.Textiles :

Because the fibers of bamboo are very short (less than 3 mm), they are impossible to transform into

yarn in a natural process.[27] The usual process by which textiles labeled as being made of bamboo are

produced uses only rayon made from the fibers with heavy employment of chemicals. To accomplish

this, the fibers are broken down with chemicals and extruded through mechanical spinnerets; the

chemicals include lye, carbon disulfide and strong acids.[22] Retailers have sold both end products as

"bamboo fabric" to cash in on bamboo's current ecofriendly cachet; however, the Canadian Competition

Bureau[28] and the US Federal Trade Commission,[29] as of mid-2009, are cracking down on the practice of

labeling bamboo rayon as natural bamboo fabric. Under the guidelines of both agencies, these products

must be labeled as rayon with the optional qualifier "from bamboo.Bamboo fabric is spun from bamboo

pulp manufactured from bamboo grown on bamboo plantations primarily in China. Because bamboo has

so many uses and derived products, growing bamboo has become a significant industry in China

7.Building materials:

House made entirely of bamboo

In its natural form, bamboo as a construction material is traditionally associated with the cultures of

South Asia, East Asia and the South Pacific, to some extent in Central and South America, and by

extension in the aesthetic of Tiki culture. In China and India, bamboo was used to hold up simple

suspension bridges, either by making cables of split bamboo or twisting whole culms of sufficiently

pliable bamboo together. One such bridge in the area of Qian-Xian is referenced in writings dating back

960 AD, and may have stood since as far back as the third century BC, due largely to continuous

maintenance.[17]

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Bamboo has also long been used as scaffolding; the practice has been banned in China for buildings over

six storeys, but is still in continuous use for skyscrapers in Hong Kong.[18] In the Philippines, the nipa

hut is a fairly typical example of the most basic sort of housing where bamboo is used; the walls are split

and woven bamboo, and bamboo slats and poles may be used as its support. In Japanese architecture,

bamboo is used primarily as a supplemental and/or decorative element in buildings such as fencing,

fountains, grates and gutters, largely due to the ready abundance of quality tiVarious structural shapes

may be made by training the bamboo to assume them as it grows. Squared sections of bamboo are

created by compressing the growing stalk within a square form. [20] Arches may similarly be created by

forcing the bamboo's growth with the desired form, and costs much less than it would to assume the

same shape in regular wood timber. More traditional forming methods, such as the application of heat and pressure, may also be used to curve or flatten the cut stalks.

Bamboo can be cut and laminated into sheets and planks. This process involves cutting stalks into thin

strips, planing them flat, boiling and drying the strips; they are then glued, pressed and

finished.[22] Generally long used in China and Japan, entrepreneurs started developing and selling

laminatedbamboo flooring in the West during the mid 1990s;[22] products made from bamboo laminate,

including flooring, cabinetry, furniture and even decorations, are currently surging in popularity,

transitioning from the boutique market to mainstream providers, such as Home Depot. The bamboo

goods industry (which also includes small goods, fabric, etc.) is expected to be worth $25 billion by

2012.[23] The quality of bamboo laminate varies between manufacturers and the maturity of the plant

from which it was harvested (six years being considered the optimum); the sturdiest products fulfil their

claims of being up to three times harder than oak hardwood, but others may be softer than standard

hardwoo Bamboo intended for use in construction should be treated to resist insects and rot. The most

common solution for this purpose is a mixture of boraxand boric acid.[24] Another process involves boiling cut bamboo to remove the starches that attract insects. [22]

8. Medicine

Bamboo is used in Chinese medicine for treating infections and healing.In Ayurveda, the Indian system

of traditional medicine, the silicious concretion found in the culms of the bamboo stem is

called banslochan. It is known as tabashir or tawashir in unani-tibb the Indo-Persian system of medicine.

In English, it is called "bamboo manna". This concretion is said to be a tonic for the respiratory

diseases.[citation needed] It was earlier obtained from Melocanna bambusoides and is very hard to get. In

most Indian literature, Bambusa arundinaceous is described as the source of bamboo manna.Japanese

scientists recently discovered that bamboo shoots contain anti -cancer agents and making them a regular

part of your diet effectively eliminates the free radicals that can produce dangerous carcinogens.

9. Cultural:

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The use of bamboo goes back a long time. In fact, bamboo has been considered to be a symbol of good

fortune in Asian cultures for over 4,000 years. Its ability to grow quickly and strongly has long deemed it

a symbol of success and healthy sustenance. It’s one of the most popularly sought after Feng Shui

symbols, highly recommended by the masters for creating a space of safe energy. Bamboo’s long lasting

life has instilled it as a Chinese symbol of longevity, and it is considered to be symbolic of long lasting

friendship in India. Its rare blossoming flowers have also been considered a sign of impending famine,

probably due to rats feeding on the flowers to multiply and destroy the area’s food supply

10. Weapons

Bamboo was traditionally used as a raw material for making weapons of many different sorts. The earliest bamboo weapons were simple blowguns designed by primitive peoples to project a dart with a quick burst of air. Bamboo has also been used to make light and strong bows and arrows. Bamboo Grove reports that gunpowder guns have been constructed out of bamboo. Treated bamboo poles are still often used in martial arts as training weapons

11. Musical Instruments:

Dizi (Chinese flute) is made of bamboo. Bamboo has long been used as a raw material for making

musical instruments. The practice originated in Asia but has since spread around the world. Sunreed

and other musical instrument manufacturers produce a wide range of bamboo instruments, including

clarinets, pentatonic flutes, shakuhachi, saxophones, wind chimes, pipe organs, gongs, pan pipes,

whistles, drums, shakers and didjeridoos

12. Art

Bamboo painting is an important part of Chinese traditional painting.

13.Hedge ;

In landscaping, uses for bamboo include as a hedge (for privacy screens) and as a specimen plant. I

deal with bamboo privacy screens .Yes, bamboo can be an excellent choice, both as a noise buffer and

as a privacy screen.

14. Kitchen Implements

In addition to eating bamboo shoots and making beer from a fermented bamboo preparation, traditional human cultures have used bamboo to make a number of different kitchen implements. Bamboo steamers have been used for centuries to prepare steamed foods over boiling water. Utensils, such as chopsticks, spoons, knives, egg beaters and forks have long been made of bamboo. Most dishes, including cups, plates, bowls, place mats and storage containers, have been traditionally made of bamboo.

15. TRADITIONAL FORMULAS

The following four tables present examples of traditional formulas that have incorporated bamboo .The

formulas have been divided as follows:

1. Bamboo leaf formulas for febrile conditions. Generally, these formulas were designed to treat

an acute feverish disease that did not resolve in a few days, and sometimes caused a drying of

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the fluids (particularly of the stomach) as well as affecting the other internal organs. Typical

symptoms are fever, irritability, and insomnia. The formula ZhuyeShigao Tang (Bamboo Leaf and

Gypsum Combination) has been adopted in modern treatment of some chronic ailments,

including diabetes.

2. Bamboo shavings formulas for upflowing qi from the stomach. These are formulas that are

used for stomach heat syndromes that produce incorrect flow of qi, commonly causing nausea

and loss of appetite, as well as symptoms of hiccups or vomiting (for acute and chronic cases).

The formulas JupiZhuru Tang (Aurantium and Bamboo Combination) and Wendan Tang (Bamboo

and Hoelen Combination) are widely used for these symptoms; the latter formula also addresses

irritability and insomnia.

3. Bamboo shavings and tabasheer formulas for phlegm mist affecting the brain. These

formulas clear heat and resolve phlegm to treat a syndrome in which "phlegm mist obstructs the

orifices of the heart" (tanmixinqiao) or, in cases where there is significant heat present, phlegm

fire disturbing the heart (tanhuoraoxin). Symptoms may include severe agitation and insomnia, or

convulsions (epilepsy, spasms, etc.), mania (emotional outbursts, incoherent speech), and even

coma. The tabasheer formulas typically include many animal and mineral agents to make a highly

potent (and toxic) treatment that can be given in very small amounts for only a few days; these

were designed for treatment of infants. Ditan Tang (Phlegm-Scouring Decoction)

and ZhuruWendan Tang (Bamboo and Ginseng Combination) are non-toxic formulations with

bamboo shavings that are still used today in the treatment of epilepsy (or other convulsive

disorders) and mental illnesses (including those of children); these formulas can be used for

prolonged treatment, if necessary.

4. Bamboo shavings and bamboo sap formulas for cough with excess sputum. Although

bamboo is used in formulas for lung heat, especially when there is excessive sputum (often quite

sticky in nature), it is not a common ingredient, since other herbs have very similar applications,

particularly fritillaria, with which it is often combined. Both formulas listed are still in common use,

primarily through Japanese and Taiwanese interest in them.

16. Erosion Control:

Bamboo has other advantages. Its roots grab onto soil and hold it fast. Plant bamboo on a steep slope or riverbank and it prevents mudslides and erosion.

17, Bamboo Charcoal

Charcoal, of course, is not the only thing that can be made of bamboo. Its tensile strength makes it a good construction material, and it is also used for furniture, flooring and textiles, among other

things. Paradoxically, harvesting bamboo to make durable goods is greener than not harvesting bamboo. Here’s why: bamboo culms — the poles — do not live as long as hardwood trees, usually up

to a decade. When an old culm decays, it releases carbon into the atmosphere. (The root system,

which hold 30 to 40 percent of its carbon, last much longer.) This means that an untouched bamboo

forest is a poor carbon sink. Fortunately, the best way to turn bamboo into an excellent carbon sink is to make money with it — harvest the bamboo to make durable products before it starts its decay. Treated bamboo flooring or furniture will last as long as wood, storing its carbon the whole time

18. Fuel and reforestation

Along with the fuel possibilities, bamboo has the fastest reforestation potential of any plant,

making a new canopy in burnt landscapes in a matter of months. Bamboo is an

environmentally safe, renewable source of fuel and building material that has a positive

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effect on the environment in an age ridden with ecological problems brought on by the

widespread use of fossil fuels.

19. Bamboo Poles and ladders

Commercial grade bamboo poles and decorative bamboo sticks are manufactured with only the

highest grade Tonkin and Moso bamboo harvested from 3-5 years of growth to achieve maximum wall

thickness and density. A very versatile building product, our bamboo poles are suitable for indoor,

outdoor and furniture building uses. Bamboo Poles come in a variety of lengths and diameters in

natural, black and speckled bamboo.

20. Other uses

Bamboo Fencing,Thatch,Bamboo Poles ,Thatch Structures ,Bamboo Rugs ,Bamboo Furniture,Tiki Bar

,Matting ,Tiki Statues ,Bamboo Panels ,Tropical Decor ,Bamboo Borders ,Artificial Thatch ,bamboo

stakes

Summary for Bamboo Cultivation

Although the trend for bamboo is growing fast, there’s still a lot of questions out there about this tall,

striking plant. Instant Jungle International has been dealing with bamboo and other tropical plants for

our entire 30-year career, so we wanted to share some of our knowledge by answering some frequently

asked questions.

1. Doesn’t all bamboo run rampant once planted?

Bamboo comes in two forms, clumping and “grove-like” or running bamboo. Running bamboo can be

easily contained with root barrier. Root barrier is usually a 30 or 40 mm polyethylene plastic sheeting

that encircles the area where you want the “grove-like bamboo” to stay contained. It is supplied in 24”,

30” and 36” depths and ships in roll

3. How fast does bamboo grow?

Bamboo varieties differ in rate of growth. The timber varieties grow fairly fast and can grow quite tall, ranging from 25’-45’ in maturity. Other varieties reach a shorter height and grow somewhat s lower.

3. How many kinds of bamboo are there?

There are hundreds of varieties of bamboo. Most varieties that are used ornamentally in garden number about 20-30.

4. Are there bamboo types that can be used indoors?

Some bamboo varieties may be used in an interior application– there must be sufficient overhead

lighting and good ventilation

5. Is there bamboo that doesn’t need a lot of water or light?

Instant Jungle builds and supplies “replica” bamboo, which are “silk” bamboo. We use real canes and attach silk leaves to the branches.

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6. Are there commercial uses for bamboo?

Bamboo is used in large commercial applications more often than most people know. Instant Jungle has

supplied bamboo for “LA Live”, rooftop building garden in San Francisco, many casinos in Las Vegas,

many office parks where tall screening has been required, as well as living screens to hide parking garages and to create a more private intimate setting.

7. What are the most common residential uses for bamboo?

The most common residential uses for bamboo are for “living screens” or specimen pieces that stand on their own.

8. How high does bamboo grow? Can you control it?

There are many species of bamboo that grow in different ways. Some are very dense with a “hedging”

appearance, the most popular being Bambusa Multiplex “Alphonse Karr”. Other varieties grow quite tall

and are either very dense or somewhat open at the base if they are shaded. These are commonly called

timber bamboo and come in both clumping and running varieties. Some of the common names are

“tropical timber bamboo” or Japanese Timber bamboo.

9. Does bamboo need constant watering?

Bamboo is in the same family (plant) as grasses, therefore it prefers regular irrigation. This can be

accomplished many ways. Instant Jungle uses a drip irrigation system at our nursery.

10. Does bamboo need a lot of maintenance?

Bamboo does not require a significant amount of maintenance. We recommend a yearly pruning of the

older canes, to encourage and provide space for the new culms (shoots) to emerge. This occurs once a year, late spring for the temperate bamboo, and summer to fall for the tropical bamboo.

11. Where does bamboo originate?

Many bamboos originate in China

Mr. .Allah Dad Khan Former Director General Agriculture Extension Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Peshawar