The mystery of giant bamboo, which can be taller than a 10-story building

Not only is it the tallest species of giant bamboo in the world, it is also one of the fastest growing and most versatile species on our planet.

Native to Southeast Asia, Dendrocalamus giganteus, also known as giant bamboo , is the tallest and one of the largest bamboo species on our planet. These sky-high bamboos can reach heights of up to 50 meters – taller than a 10-story building!

Bamboo nodes can be 25 to 40 cm long and 10 to 35 cm in diameter. The walls of the stems are thin, rarely more than 2.5 cm thick, and they branch only at the top, where they produce leaves and flowers.

This is the tallest and one of the largest bamboo species on the planet. (Illustration photo).

But this giant bamboo is not only tall and big, it also grows incredibly fast. It can grow up to 40cm per day under favorable conditions. The record for this species was set in Sri Lanka in 1903, where a new shoot grew 46cm in 24 hours. That means you can literally see the bamboo growing before your eyes.

The flowers of this bamboo species usually grow in large clusters (branched clusters) at the ends of branches, usually every 40 years, which is remarkable because the plant normally only lives for about 60 years. However, their flowering cycle is unpredictable and varies depending on environmental factors.

Bamboo flowers grow in large clusters. (Illustration photo).

This giant bamboo has many uses for humans and animals . Firstly, it is edible. The young shoots that are harvested and cooked can be eaten as a vegetable or pickled. They are rich in protein, fiber and minerals, and have a sweet and crunchy taste. They are also used as animal feed , especially for elephants and pandas.

However, they are not only used for purposes such as food but also as raw materials for construction and crafts. The stems are extremely strong and durable and can be used to build houses, bridges, furniture, musical instruments, etc. They are also environmentally friendly because they sequester carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. Giant bamboo is also used to weave baskets, mats, hats and other items. The leaves are used for roofing and mulch.

Giant bamboo is used as a raw material for construction and handicrafts. (Illustration photo).

As you can see, the giant bamboo is a remarkable plant that deserves our admiration and respect. It is a symbol of strength, resilience, and beauty. If you want to grow your own giant bamboo, you will need a large space and a warm, humid climate – similar to the climates found in India, Myanmar, Thailand, and the Yunnan province of China.

You will also need to water it regularly and fertilize it with organic matter. You can propagate it from seed but be aware that it flowers very rarely (once every 40 years, as noted above) and the plant may die after flowering.

This bamboo species is edible. (Illustration photo).

That said, Dendrocalamus giganteus is a beautiful bamboo that can add a tropical flair to your garden. If you have the space and the right conditions, there is nothing stopping you from enjoying its beauty and benefits.

The mysterious flowering cycle of bamboo

There are over 1,700 different species of bamboo known on our planet , all with different flowering habits and flowering periods. Furthermore, there is not much scientific evidence and research on why and when bamboo flowers, mainly because the flowering period of bamboo can vary by several decades.

While most herbaceous bamboos flower annually, most bamboos flower very rarely. In fact, many species flower only once every 3 to 150 years and may die partially or completely soon after.

The massive flowering and seeding of bamboo also has economic and ecological consequences. The huge amount of seed in the forest attracts large numbers of rats and other rodents, which can consume all available food crops and cause serious disease outbreaks in surrounding villages. Furthermore, as the bamboo dies, local people lose access to an important source of building materials for their homes and agricultural activities.

What is even more unique is that bamboo also exhibits a phenomenon of collective flowering , which means that all plants of a particular species flower at the same time, regardless of geographical location or climatic conditions, and die together a few years later. The length of time in the collective flowering cycle will vary depending on the species.

In other words, when a particular species of bamboo begins to flower en masse, it will flower all over the world. However, this is very rare and is more the exception than the rule.

The two most likely explanations for why bamboo dies after flowering are that producing seeds requires a huge amount of energy, which puts the bamboo plant under so much stress that it actually dies. The second explanation could be that the mother plant is creating an optimal environment for its offspring to survive. In other words, when the mother plant dies, the offspring will have access to water, nutrients, and sunlight that the mother plant will use to continue growing.