BAMBOO, the common name of more than 200 species of about 20 genera of peren nial, mostly tree-like, tropical and sub-tropical grasses unevenly distributed throughout the world, but more abundant in southern Asia, where 160 or more species are found from sea !eve! to altitudes of 10,000 feet or slightly more in the Himalayas; and next most plentiful in America, where there are about 70 species, some of which reach elevations of 15,000 feet in the Andes. Occasional specimens of the larger species attain a height of 120 feet and a girth of three feet. From the jointed root stock the numerous jointed, usually straight and erect, but sometimes crooked or creeping stems grow without branches until the full height as reached, when a more or le.ss dense thicket of horizontal limbs is developed, and the great panicles of flowers appear.
The number of uses to which these plants are put rivals that of the palms. In fact the various species can be utilized for ittan's every purpose. The light, elastic hard stems, hollow or slightly pithy, except at the points, which have strong partitions, are used for bridges, masts, poles, joists, fishing-rods, etc.; when the partitions are removed, for waterpipes; when sawed in sections, for pails (the natural parti tions serving as bottoms), cooldng-utensils, life-preservers, bows, arrows, quivers, walking canes, flutes and smoking-pipes; when split, for nets, hats, fishing-rods, widcer-work and um brellas. Parts of the leaves of some species are used for paper-malcing, thatch and hats; the young shoots of some are used as food, either boiled or piclded; the seeds, for food and for making a lcind of beer; some of the spiny spe cies are planted as hedges for defense against foes, animal and human.
Some species yield ((Indian honeyl (so called by the Greeks), the air-dried saccharine exuda tions from the nodes. Sometimes this sub stance is called tabaris or tabasheer (q.v.), which is properly a phosphorescent substance obtained from other species and from related grasses. Many of the species are of exceed ingly rapid growth; even in greenhouses speci mens have been known to attain a height of 20 feet in two months or even less time. In arid climates the bamboos are often of great value, since they are among the few plants that will grow in such places. Many species are culti vated for ornament, not only in warm coun tries, but in greenhouses. Some species thrive in climates where the thermometer does not fall •much below the freezing-point. In general the hardy species do best m deep, rich soil and warm situations protected from severe winter winds. The roots should be given a protective mulch of litter in autumn, and this should be allowed to remain during the sum mer as a moisture conserver. For an account of ornamental bamboo culture in greenhouses and out of doors, and of the ornamental species grown in America, consult Bailey, (Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture.'