Bamboo
belongs to the group of plants known as grasses. There are more
than 300 species of bamboo growing in China. Some bamboo grows
to be 37 metres high and have stems 30 centimetres in diameter.
How does bamboo
grow?
New shoots sprout
from the base of a mature plant. They grow quickly and are fully
grown within a few months. Bamboos don't flower often. Depending
on the species, they flower only every 10 or more years. Bamboo
plants usually die after they bloom and this is a problem for
the Giant Panda which eats only a certain kind of bamboo. After
the bamboo flowers and then dies, the pandas have no food.
Some uses for bamboo
as
food for the Giant Panda
as food for people who eat bamboo shoots
as a garden plant and for landscaping
as a building material for houses
in Chinese medicine
to make utensils such as bowls and cooking pots
to build furniture such as chairs
in paper making
for weaving
to make cages
and enclosures
Chinese bamboo is sold to other countries
Acknowledge this
source in your bibliography like this:
China
(2001).
[Online], Available: www.kidcyber.com.au
updated November 2006
