DefinePK

Abstract

ABSTRACT The bamboos are perennial gigantic grasses which are versatile and graceful group of plants and are of multiple utility. About 14 million hectares of the earth surface is covered by bamboo forests with 80 percent of their total area falling in Asia. They are well represented in all continents except Europe and their distribution extend from 15&deg North latitude in Japan to 47&deg South latitude in South Argentina in the areas of Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricon. The altitudinal range is from just above the sea level upto 4000 meters. The natural distribution of bamboos all over the world follows the distribution of rainfall. However, temperature also affects it to some extent. The total number of bamboo species worldwide is 1250, out of which Asia has 900 species. Almost all countries of Asia have either natural forests or man-made plantations of bamboo. In Asia the widespread distribution of some bamboo species parallel man's past migration. Bamboo may also have traveled along the several ancient maritime spice routes between China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India.