Bamboo, a plant of the family Gramineae, is the longest grass in the world. The length can vary, and some bamboo plants are as short as 30 centimetres, while giant timber bamboo can grow to a height of over 40 metres or 100 feet.
It consists of a hollow culm or stem, with nodes or joints between segments of the stem, and oval leaves. The culm, branches and leaves stay green throughout the bamboo’s life, even during winter.
The bamboo’s lifespan is not very long – only about 20 years, and it flowers once every 7 to 120 years, depending on the species. Interestingly, all the bamboo of a particular species will flower at exactly the same time, regardless of their geographical location.
Being a very versatile plant, bamboo grows in a lot of different climates – it can be found on all the continents except

The bamboo plant has a wide variety of uses, ranging from being purely decorative to being an important source of fuel. It is utilised as wood in construction work, furniture, utensils, fibre and paper. Bamboo charcoal makes a good fuel, and because it is three times as porous as wood, and releases more energy. Bamboo shoots are also delicious to eat and the leaves provide fodder for animals like the panda. In ancient Chinese culture it was believed that a gift of living bamboo brought good luck. Thus, a fairly recent use of the bamboo plant is as a popular Feng Shui gift. (Indianchild.com )

Cane and Bamboo
Cane and bamboo have remained inseparable parts of life in
The Jappi, (a decorative hat, a symbol of honour) traditional the tradition sunshade continues to be the most prestigious of bamboo items of the State, and it has been in use since the days when the Great Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang come to Assam than visitors are welcomed with a Jaapi.
Cane and bamboo furniture on the other hand have been a hit both in the domestic as well as the export market, while paati, the traditional mat has found its way into the world of interior decoration.
Eco-friendly
Besides being gorgeous and incredibly durable, this flooring choice is an environmentally friendly choice, this is because bamboo (which is actually a grass) is fast growing and more plentiful than hardwoods. So you don’t have to worry about depleting forests when you opt for bamboo – it’s great renewable resource.