Bamboo

Bamboo is a type of perennial evergreen. It is actually in the true grass family called Poaceae. Bamboo plants are some of the largest plants in this family, with Giant bamboos being the largest.

Bamboo is famous as a building tool, a food product, and is used more and more in the home for things such as floor mats, clothing (pajamas!), and of course bamboo shower curtains. A lot of countries rely on bamboo for their industry and food supply, and also as a building material.

Some bamboo plants flower every single year, but there are some plants that can take between 60 to 120 years to actually flower. When they do flower, however, the flowers are massive, and all of the plants in the region bloom at once.

Many scientists are unsure of exactly what makes these plants all bloom at the same time. It is clearly because of some sort of natural alarm-clock like feature that is embedded in the cells of the bamboo plants, but scientists still do not really understand why this happens. The bamboo with the largest mass flowering interval is said to be the Phyllostachys bambusoides, with an interval of 130 years between mass flowerings!

Bamboo is known for its ability to grow at a very accelerated rate, as opposed to other plants like it. Bamboo is a staple in the diet of the giant Panda, and also the Red Panda of Nepal. There are also various assorted rat species that will eat bamboo, and mountain gorillas have also been known to feed on the large plant.

The new bamboo shoots are edible to people, and this is the part of the bamboo that is harvested for human culinary purposes. They are widely available in supermarkets in several parts of the world, especially in areas where bamboo is plentiful. The sap of some bamboo plants is also used to make a wine. This wine is said to be a very sweet variety. The sap can also be used to make a soft drink.