Bamboo plant

Some of its members are giants, forming by far the largest members of the grass family.

There are 91 genera and about 1,000 species of bamboo.

They are found in diverse climates, from cold mountains to hot tropical regions.

Although bamboo is a grass, many of the larger bamboos are very tree-like in appearance and they are sometimes called "bamboo trees".

The stems, or 'culms', can range in height from a few centimetres to 40 metres, with stem diameters ranging from 1 mm to 30 cm.

The stems are jointed, with regular nodes.

Many bamboos are popular in cultivation as garden plants.

In cultivation, care needs to be taken of their potential for invasive behaviour.

They spread mainly through their roots and/or rhizomes, which can spread widely underground and send off new culms to break through the surface.