Bamboo is a group of woody evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Some of its members are giant bamboo, forming the largest members of the grass family. Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant in the world. They are of economic and high cultural significance in East Asia and South East Asia where they are used extensively in gardens, as a building material, and as a food source.
In China, bamboo leaves are also used as wrappers for zongzi, a steamed dumpling typical of southern China. Soups are boiled and rice is cooked in the hollows of fresh stalks of bamboo directly over a flame. Similarly, steamed tea is sometimes rammed into bamboo hollows to produce compressed forms of Pu-erh tea. The fiber of bamboo has been used to make paper in China since early times. Bamboo slip is a writing material that was initially used in ancient times. To form a bamboo slip, an article is written with a brush on several long, narrow, pared slices of bamboo. Only one line of words is written on each slice. The slices are then tied together to form the "bamboo slip." Soft bamboo shoots, stems, and leaves are the major food source of the Giant Panda of China.
In Chinese culture, Bamboo's long life makes it a symbol of longevity. The bamboo, plum blossom, orchid, and chrysanthemum are collectively referred to as the Four Noble Ones.
In China, bamboo leaves are also used as wrappers for zongzi, a steamed dumpling typical of southern China. Soups are boiled and rice is cooked in the hollows of fresh stalks of bamboo directly over a flame. Similarly, steamed tea is sometimes rammed into bamboo hollows to produce compressed forms of Pu-erh tea. The fiber of bamboo has been used to make paper in China since early times. Bamboo slip is a writing material that was initially used in ancient times. To form a bamboo slip, an article is written with a brush on several long, narrow, pared slices of bamboo. Only one line of words is written on each slice. The slices are then tied together to form the "bamboo slip." Soft bamboo shoots, stems, and leaves are the major food source of the Giant Panda of China.
In Chinese culture, Bamboo's long life makes it a symbol of longevity. The bamboo, plum blossom, orchid, and chrysanthemum are collectively referred to as the Four Noble Ones.