Bamboos (subfamily: Bambusoideae) are readily recognizable. Found in temperate and tropical zones worldwide, these grasses comprise ninety-two genera and somewhere around 1,200 species. The widest diversity of bamboo is in Asia with pencil-thin bamboos that grow only a foot in height to thick culmed species that tower over 100 feet. Even the U.S. has a native species, switchcane (Arundinaria gigantea (Walter) Walter ex Muhlenberg) which despite its species epithet, seldom grows over 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall.

In Europe and North America, bamboos are generally cultivated for their grace and beauty. Specimens make 'architectural statements' enclosing a garden or defining spaces within it. Depending upon the species or cultivar, culms (stems of members of the grass family) may be green, yellow, yellow and green, reddish, or even purplish-black. The foliage may be all green or variegated with white or yellow.

For purposes of garden design, bamboos are generally divided into two groups—'runners' and 'clumpers'. Clumpers have short rhizomes; the culms arise close to each other with the clump becoming wider every year. Runners have long rhizomes and unless contained, they run—all over the garden, the neighbor's garden, and sometimes even under walkways and paths. Many runners, though, make stunning container plants for patios.

In Asia and many island nations, bamboos are economic plants useful to humans. Bamboo moved with people; its transport along the ancient sea trading routes makes it impossible to determine where some species originated. As economic plants, they are also divided into two groups—village bamboos (cultivated) and forest bamboos (wild-growing).

Bamboos have a myriad of uses. The culms are strong and provide framing, support beams, and shingles for buildings. Split into strands of fibers and twisted, bamboo ropes have tensile strength like steel cables to support suspension bridges, lash boats to moorings, and weave nets and weirs for fishing. Bamboo pipes and troughs move water to houses and fields.

Bamboo drums, pipes, and flutes entertained around fires at night. Bamboo bird and animal 'calls' lured the quarry. Bamboo blowpipes and darts brought the quarry down. Bamboo arrows went to battle in Medieval Japan. Since the Stone Age, bamboo has been fashioned into almost any item humans wanted or needed.

In China, bamboo is one of the Four Noble Plants. Bamboo furniture is master-crafted; the joinery locks together without nails, screws, pegs, or glue. But bamboo is more than just useful. It is serenity and there is no sound in the world like a bamboo clapping in the wind.

(Compiled from: "Bamboo", Hortus Third, Staff L.H. Bailey Hortorium, NY State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Macmillan, NY, 1976 and Biodiversity and Genetic Conservation, Volume 2, Bamboo, People, and the Environment, Proceedings of the V International Bamboo Workshop and the IV International Bamboo Congress, R. Rao et al, ed. Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, 1995, and personal experience)