Bamboo-fiber paper has been made in China for centuries, and a coarse variety continues to be used to create joss paper, or spirit money, which is used in Chinese ceremonies.
Popular houseplants sold as “lucky bamboo” actually are an entirely different species called Dracaena sanderiana.
The giant panda that is native to China and the spider monkey feast on bamboo shoots, stems and leaves as their major food source.
After surviving the atomic blast at Hiroshima in 1945, bamboo provided the first regreening to the area.
Aside from its culinary uses, bamboo forms a light, exceptionally tough and hard wood that surpasses the tensile strength of mild steel. In addition, it can be used to make blinds, utensils, diesel fuel, flooring, furniture, medicine, musical instruments and more.
This hardy plant is the fastest-growing variety on the planet. Some species grow as much as 3–4 feet a day.