Bamboo is a subfamily of Gramineae.

Bamboo is a tall tree-like herb. There are more than 70 genera and 1000 species recorded, but many of them are synonyms. Bamboo is a tall and fast-growing herb with woody stems. Distributed in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions. The islands of East Asia, Southeast Asia, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean are the most concentrated and have the most kinds. The aboveground stems of bamboo are woody and hollow (we call them bamboo stems), which are made up of underground stems (rhizomes) of bamboo.

The shortest bamboo stem height is 10 ~ 15cm, and the largest bamboo stem height is more than 40 meters. Mature bamboo produces transverse branches with sword-shaped leaves and petioles, and the leaves of young plants come directly from the stems. Although the stems of some species grow rapidly (0.3 meters per day), most species will bloom and bear fruit after 12 to 120 years. Bamboo blooms and bears seeds only once in its life.

The underground stem of bamboo (commonly known as bamboo whip) grows horizontally, with a little hollow and nodes in the middle. There are many dense nodes on the nodes, and many fibrous roots and buds grow on the nodes. Some buds develop into bamboo shoots that drill out of the ground and grow into bamboos, while others do not grow out of the ground, but grow horizontally and develop into new underground stems. Therefore, bamboo grows in patches and forests. Tender underground stems and bamboo shoots are edible.

In autumn and winter, bamboo shoots have not yet grown out of the ground, so digging them out is called winter bamboo shoots. In spring, bamboo shoots grow on the ground and are called spring shoots. Winter bamboo shoots and spring bamboo shoots are common foods in China cuisine. In spring, bamboo shoots wait for the spring rain in dry soil. If there is a soaking rain, bamboo shoots will grow out of the ground at a fast speed.

Bamboo is a fast-growing herb. Its bamboo leaves are narrowly lanceolate, 7.5- 16 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. Its top is conical, its base is blunt and round, its petiole is about 5 mm long, its edge is smooth on one side and rough on the other side, with small serrations. Parallel veins, 6-8 pairs of secondary veins, small transverse veins are very significant; The leaves are dark green, hairless, the back is lighter, and the base is slightly hairy; Thin and brittle. The length of bamboo shoots is 10 ~ 30cm, and the number of green nodes of bamboo is generally between 10 ~ 15.

Bamboo flowers are flowers like ears of rice. Different kinds of bamboo flowers have different colors, but they are mainly yellow, green and white, and some are accompanied by red and pink. But because it is a wind-borne flower, it will not be too bright. Each flower has three stamens and a pistil hidden in the flower. When the pollen of stamens falls on the stigma of pistil, seeds can be formed, and after reproduction, new bamboo can grow. After flowering, the stems and leaves of bamboo will turn yellow.

The underground stem of bamboo (commonly known as bamboo whip) grows horizontally, with a little hollow and nodes in the middle, many dense nodes on the nodes and many fibrous roots and buds on the nodes. Some buds develop into bamboo shoots that drill out of the ground and grow into bamboos, while others do not grow out of the ground, but grow horizontally and develop into new underground stems. Therefore, bamboo grows in patches and forests. Young bamboo whips and bamboo shoots are edible. Bamboo propagated by seeds is difficult to grow thick, and it will take decades to grow to the original thickness of bamboo. Therefore, it is generally propagated with bamboo whips (that is, underground stems), and it only takes 3 to 5 years to grow to the specified thickness.

Winter bamboo shoots and spring bamboo shoots

In autumn and winter, bamboo shoots have not yet grown out of the ground, so digging them out is called winter bamboo shoots (yellow mud arch); In spring, bamboo shoots grow on the ground and are called spring shoots. Winter bamboo shoots and spring bamboo shoots are common foods in China cuisine. In spring, bamboo shoots wait for the spring rain in dry soil. If there is a soaking rain, bamboo shoots will grow out of the ground at a fast speed.