Bamboo plant

Bamboos is a large woody grasses that belonging to the family Poaceae. This ancient woody grass widely found in tropical, subtropical and mild temperate zones of the world. It is a tremendously diverse plant, which have the capacity to adapt any extreme climatic and soil conditions.

Over 1200 different species grow worldwide. Various species can reach heights of 30 m and more. About 18 million ha of bamboo are distributed in world forest ecosystems, in Asia, Africa, and America.

The bamboo plant is made up of an underground axis and above ground axis. The underground axis is comprised of rhizomes, roots, and buds. The above ground axis is comprised of stems, branches, and foliage. Buds on the rhizomes may develop into shoots that emerge from the ground.

The plant share certain characteristics that place them apart from other grasses: segmented, typically hollow stems (called culms, as in all grasses) that are somewhat woody, which sprout from the underground stem portions (or rhizomes); a complex system of branching; and flowers that typically each have three perianth-like structures (lodicules) and 3–6 stamens.

The shoots from stem develop during the premonsoon and grow during the rainy season. Elongation of the bamboo plant takes place during the rainy season and it continues still the post rainy season.

Bamboo provides considerable environmental benefits. In many countries, it is used for ecological purposes such as soil stabilization and erosion prevention on hill slopes and verges. It is a very important forestry plant which is harvested from existing natural forests, plantations, and mixed agroforestry systems.
Bamboo plant

Rainforest flora

Knowledge of the origins of the present-day rainforest flora can provide important clues to understanding ecological dynamics.

Many rainforest trees are lived and must evolve slowly. Ecophysiological constrains conditioned by past evolutionary history can be expected.

Since the world depends on so few plant species for food, humankind is vulnerable to environmental changes and crop disease.

Medicines ranging from anesthetics to antibiotics, from contraceptives to cures for heart disease, have been extracted from rainforest flora. An estimated 25% of Western pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients yet less than 1% of rainforest plants have been tested for their medicinal properties.

The US National Cancer Institute has identified 3000 plants that are active against cancer cells and 70% of these plants are found in the rainforest. Steroids have been found in rainforest plants which help women overcome sterility.

Many of the rainforest plants are highly nutritional. The kiwi fruit, discovered in rainforest of South-East Asia, is 15 to 18 times richer in vitamin C than oranges.
Rainforest flora