BUILDING MATERIAL SCIENCE

UNIT V - BAMBOO
 BAMBOO –Kelly Neale
BAMBOO IS A GROUP OF PERENNIAL EVERGREENS IN THE TRUE
GRASS FAMILY POACEAE, SUBFAMILY BAMBUSOIDEAE, TRIBE
BAMBUSEAE. GIANT BAMBOOS ARE THE LARGEST MEMBERS OF THE
GRASS FAMILY.
• BAMBOO IS A NATURALLY OCCURRING COMPOSITE MATERIAL WHICH GROWS
ABUNDANTLY IN MOST OF THE TROPICAL COUNTRIES. IT IS
CONSIDERED A COMPOSITE MATERIAL BECAUSE IT CONSISTS OF
CELLULOSE FIBERS IMBEDDED IN A LIGNIN MATRIX.
• ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST VERSATILE BUILDING MATERIALS
WITH MANY APPLICATIONS IN THE FIELD OF CONSTRUCTION
USED THROUGHOUT THE TROPICAL AND SUB-TROPICAL
REGIONS OF THE WORLD.
• IT IS STRONG AND LIGHTWEIGHT AND CAN OFTEN BE USED
WITHOUT PROCESSING OR FINISHING.
• BAMBOO IS A GRASS, NOT A WOOD.
• EXTENSIVE ROOT SYSTEM CONSTANTLY GROWING
UNDERGROUND REPLENISHES ITSELF NATURALLY
• BAMBOO IS SUBJECT TO ATTACK BY MICRO-ORGANISMS
 BAMBOO
• THE MAIN CONSTITUENTS OF BAMBOO CULMS ARE CELLULOSE, HEMI-CELLULOSE AND
LIGNIN, WHICH AMOUNT TO OVER 90% OF THE TOTAL MASS. THE MINOR
CONSTITUENTS OF BAMBOO ARE RESINS, TANNINS, WAXES AND INORGANIC SALTS.
• OVER ONE BILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIVE IN BAMBOO HOUSES.
• BAMBOO ABSORBS 2/3 MORE CARBON DI OXIDE AND RELEASES 2/3 MORE OXYGEN
THAN ANY OTHER PLANT ON EARTH.
• BAMBOO IS A RENEWABLE AND VERSATILE RESOURCE,
CHARACTERISED BY HIGH STRENGTH AND LOW WEIGHT, AND IS EASILY WORKED
USING SIMPLE TOOLS.
• BAMBOO IS ONE OF THE FASTEST-GROWING PLANTS ON EARTH WITH CERTAIN SPECIES
REPORTED GROWTH RATES OF 100 CM (39 IN) IN 24 HOURS.
• IN SPITE OF THESE ADVANTAGES, THE USE OF BAMBOO HAS BEEN LARGELY
RESTRICTED TO TEMPORARY STRUCTURES AND LOWER GRADE BUILDINGS DUE TO
LIMITED NATURAL DURABILITY,
DIFFICULTIES IN JOINING, A LACK OF STRUCTURAL DESIGN DATA AND EXCLUSION
FROM BUILDING CODES.
 BAMBOO
• Absorbs greenhouse gases
• Amazing growth rate
• Very little waste
• Versatility
• Soil protection
• Economic development
• Bamboo grows in a variety of conditions
• Optimism and cultural cooperation
 BAMBOO
CLASSIFICATION OF BAMBOO

• KINGDOM : PLANTAE –Plants

• DIVISION : MAGNOLIOPHYTA –Flowering plants
• CLASS : LILIOPSIDA –Monocots
• SUBCLASS : COMMELINIDAE
The subclass Commelinidae consists of 16 families and
about 15,000 species. More than 1/2 of all the species
belong to the Poaceae (grasses).
• ORDER : CYPERALES
An order of monocotyledonous plants in the subclass
Commelinidae with reduced, mostly wind-pollinated or
self-pollinated flowers that have a unilocular, two-or three-
carpellate ovary bearing a single ovule.
 BAMBOO
CLASSIFICATION OF BAMBOO
FAMILY : POACEAE –Grass Family
SUBFAMILY : BAMBUSOIDEAE
The Bambusoideae is a subfamily of the true grass family
Poaceae, and is characterized by having 3 stigmas and are
mostly tree-like.
TRIBE : BAMBUSEAE
This tribe comprises woody bamboos (or hardy bamboos).
There are 91 genera, distributed into several subtribes

SUBTRIBE : BAMBUSINAE
Comprises 10 genera: Bambusa (Dendrocalamopsis), Bonia
(Monocladus), Dendrocalamus (Klemachloa, Oreobambos,
Oxynanthera or Sinocalamus), Dinochloa, Gigantochloa,
Holttumochloa, Kinabaluchloa (Maclurochloa, Soejatmia),
Melocalamus, Sphaerobambos, Thyrsostachys.
 BAMBOO
SPECIES OF BAMBOO
THERE ARE EXISTING 1500 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF BAMBOO IN THE
EARTH. INDIA HAS THE LARGEST AREA UNDER BAMBOO IN THE WORLD,
ESTIMATED 11.36 MILLION HECTARES. INDIA HAS 136 SPECIES OF BAMBOO
DISTRIBUTED THROUGH OUT THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE
COUNTRY.
 BAMBOO
The commonly used species in construction are BambusaBalcooa,
BambusaBambos, Bambusa Tulda, Dendrocalamus Giganteous,
Dendrocalamus Hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus Asper, etc.
 BAMBOO
16 SELECTED INDIAN BAMBOO SPECIES
BAMBUSA BALCOOA
• LOCAL NAMES
BHALUKA ASSAM | BALKU BANS WEST BENGAL |
BORO BANS NORTH BENGAL | WAMNAH, BERU
MEGHALAYA: GARO HILLS | BARAK TRIPURA
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
OCCURS AT ALTITUDES OF UP TO 600 M. PREFERS
HEAVY TEXTURED SOIL WITH GOOD DRAINAGE.
A COMMON HOMESTEAD BAMBOO IN NORTH
EAST INDIA AND WEST BENGAL. ALSO OCCURS
IN BIHAR, JHARKHAND AND UTTARANCHAL.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 30 M TALL, DARK GREEN
AND THICK-WALLED.
• FLOWERING
GREGARIOUS. THE CLUMP/PLANT DIES AFTER
FLOWERING WITHOUT SETTING ANY SEED. THE
FLOWERING CYCLE IS 35-45 YEARS.
• USES
THE MOST COMMON USE OF THIS STURDY AND
STRONG BAMBOO IS IN HOUSE CONSTRUCTION.
IT IS A GOOD BAMBOO FOR SCAFFOLDING AND
LADDERS.
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA BALCOOA
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA BAMBOS
• LOCAL NAMES
KOTOHA ASSAM | BEHOR BANS BENGAL | ILLI, MULA,
PATTILL KERALA | KANTA BANS ORISSA | NAL BANS
PUNJAB | SANEIBO MANIPUR /MUNGIL TAMIL NADU |
BONGU VEDURU, MULLA VEDURU ANDHRA
PRADESH
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
ATTAINS THE BEST GROWTH IN MOIST DECIDUOUS
FORESTS. PREFERS RICH AND MOIST SOIL, AND
THRIVES NEAR PERENNIAL RIVERS AND VALLEYS.
FOUND ALMOST THROUGHOUT INDIA, AND IS
COMMON IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH INDIA.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 30 METRES TALL, CYLINDRICAL,
DARK GREEN, ERECT, STRONG.
• FLOWERING
GREGARIOUS. FLOWERS AT LONG INTERVALS 40-60
YEARS AND THE CLUMP/PLANT DIES AFTER
FLOWERING.
• USES
IT IS USED AS RAW MATERIAL FOR PULP AND PAPER,
TO MAKE PANEL PRODUCTS AND HANDICRAFTS,
AND FOR THATCHING AND ROOFING.
BAMBOO
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA NUTANS
• LOCAL NAMES
BIDHULI, MUKIA ASSAM | MALLA UTTAR
PRADESH | MALLO, MAHI BANS SIKKIM:
LEPCHA | BADIA BANSA ORISSA | KALI, BENG,
MAKLA TRIPURA
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
GROWS BEST AT ALTITUDES OF BETWEEN
500-1500 M. THRIVES ON MOIST HILL SLOPES
AND FLAT UPLANDS, AND IN WELL-DRAINED
SANDY LOAM TO CLAYEY LOAM SOILS.
COMMONLY FOUND AND CULTIVATED IN
THE NORTH EAST, ORISSA AND BENGAL.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 20 M TALL, DARK GREEN,
LOOSELY CLUMPED, STRAIGHT AND
SMOOTH.
• FLOWERING
FLOWERS GREGARIOUSLY AT AN INTERVAL
OF 35 YEARS. SPORADIC FLOWERING IS ALSO
OBSERVED.
• USES
HOUSE CONSTRUCTION, BASKETRY
AND CRAFT.
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA NUTANS
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA PALLIDA
• LOCAL NAMES
BIJULI ASSAM: BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY | BAKHAL, BURWAL ASSAM: BARAK
VALLEY | LOTO ASSAM: KARBI-ANGLONG | SESKIEN, SKHEN, TNENG, USKEN
MEGHALAYA: KHASI HILLS | TESERO, WATOI NAGALAND | PASHIPO, PUSHEE
SIKKIM: LEPCHA | MAKAL TRIPURA
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
GROWS BEST IN HIGH RAINFALL AND HUMIDITY AREAS WITH MODERATELY
HIGH TEMPERATURE.
NATURALLY FOUND AND CULTIVATED IN THE NORTH EAST.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 20 M TALL, OLIVE GREEN AND SMOOTH.
• FLOWERING
SPORADIC. FLOWERING CYCLE IS 40 YEARS
• USES
MAINLY USED IN FOR MAKING BASKETS, AND MATS.
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA POLYMORPHA
• LOCAL NAMES
JAMA BETWA, BETWA ASSAM, WEST BENGAL |
NARANGI BANS MADHYA PRADESH | BARI
TRIPURA
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
PREFERS DEEP, FERTILE, WELL-DRAINED
LOAM AND RIVERINE ALLUVIAL SOIL.
COMMONLY FOUND IN ARUNACHAL PRADESH,
MEGHALAYA AND TRIPURA. ALSO OCCURS IN
OTHER PARTS OF THE NORTH EAST.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 25 M TALL, LIGHT GREEN
OR WHITE GREY TO GREYISH-GREEN.
• FLOWERING
GREGARIOUS AS WELL AS SPORADIC.
FLOWERING CYCLE IS 55-60 YEARS.
• USES
IT IS A BAMBOO WITH MANY USES - AS EDIBLE
SHOOT, IN WOVEN FORM FOR HANDICRAFTS,
AND FOR HOUSE CONSTRUCTION. IT IS ALSO
USED FOR PULPING.
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA POLYMORPHA
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA TULDA
• LOCAL NAMES
JATI ASSAM, ARUNACHAL, NAGALAND, WEST
BENGAL | KIRANTI BENGAL: DOOARS | WATI
MEGHALAYA: GARO HILLS | MAKAR KERALA |
MIRTINGA TRIPURA | RAWTHING MIZORAM |
PAOSHIDING, YING SIKKIM: LEPCHA |
DEOBANS BIHAR
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
OCCURS AT ALTITUDES OF 1500 METRES AND
THRIVES ALONG WATER COURSES. FOUND
EXTENSIVELY IN THE NORTH EAST AND WEST
BENGAL.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 15 M TALL, THICK WALLED,
STRONG AND UPRIGHT, SMOOTH AND
GREYISH-GREEN.
• FLOWERING
GREEN FLOWERS. GREGARIOUS. THE
FLOWERING CYCLE IS 30-60 YEARS.
• USES
TRADITIONALLY FAVOURED FOR BASKETRY
AND WOVEN APPLICATIONS.
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA TULDA
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA VULGARIS
• LOCAL NAMES
BASINI BANS, BAKAL BENGAL | BAKAL
MANIPUR | VAIRUA MIZORAM
| SUNDROGAI, SUNDERKANIA BANSA
ORISSA
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
PREFERS MOIST SOIL. OCCURS IN
NATURAL FORESTS IN CENTRAL INDIA
AND IN THE NORTH EAST.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 20 M TALL, ERECT,
BRIGHT GREEN OR YELLOWISH, GREEN
OR YELLOW STRIPED, SMOOTH AND
GLOSSY.
• FLOWERING
SPORADIC
• USES
USED FOR PAPER-MAKING, DECORATIVE
ITEMS AND HANDICRAFTS.
 BAMBOO
BAMBUSA VULGARIS
 BAMBOO
DENDROCALAMUS BRANDISII
• LOCAL NAMES
BULKA BENGAL | WANAN MANIPUR
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
PRIMARILY FOUND IN TROPICAL
FORESTS.
FOUND IN THE JIRIBAM AREA OF
MANIPUR. INTRODUCED INTO COORG
(KARNATAKA).
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 20 M TALL, ASHY
GREY TO GREENISH-GREY, AND
SMOOTH.
• FLOWERING
GREGARIOUS AND SPORADIC.
• USES
HOUSE CONSTRUCTION AND
BASKETRY, AND TO MAKE
HANDICRAFTS.
 BAMBOO
DENDROCALAMUS BRANDISII
 BAMBOO
DENDROCALAMUS GIGANTEUS
• LOCAL NAMES
MAIPO ARUNACHAL PRADESH:
KHAMTI | WORRA ASSAM | MAROOBOB
MANIPUR | BHALO BANS SIKKIM
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
GROWS WELL IN HUMID TROPICAL
AND SUB-TROPICAL REGIONS, IN THE
NORTH EAST, WEST BENGAL AND
BIHAR.
• CULM
THE CULM IS LARGE, UP TO 30 M TALL,
DULL GREEN, WITH A WAXY
APPEARANCE
• FLOWERING
SPORADIC. THE FLOWERING CYCLE IS
40 YEARS.
• USES
USED FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES
AND TO MAKE BOAT MASTS.
 BAMBOO
DENDROCALAMUS GIGANTEUS
 BAMBOO
DENDROCALAMUS HAMILTONII
• LOCAL NAMES
KAKO ASSAM | FONAY ASSAM: KARBI-
ANGLONG | PECHA WEST BENGAL | TAMA
WEST BENGAL: DARJEELING | UNEP
MANIPUR | WANOKE MEGHALAYA: GARO
HILLS | PAO SIKKIM: LEPCHA | PHULRUA
MIZORAM
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
OCCURS IN FINE-TEXTURED SOIL IN SEMI-
EVERGREEN FORESTS. GROWS
ABUNDANTLY AND WELL IN THE NORTH
EAST AND HIMACHAL PRADESH.
• CULM
THE CULM IS LARGE, UP TO 30 M TALL,
DULL GREEN.
• FLOWERING
THE FLOWERING CYCLE IS 30-40 YEARS.
COMMONLY AND PERIODICALLY
• USES
USED AS EDIBLE SHOOT, FOR ROOFING AND
CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES.
 BAMBOO
DENDROCALAMUS HAMILTONII
 BAMBOO
DENDROCALAMUS STRICTUS
• LOCAL NAMES
LATHI BANS NORTH AND CENTRAL INDIA |
KANKA KARA, SANDAPA VEDURU ANDHRA
PRADESH | KARAL BENGAL | NAKUR BANS, KIRI
BIDIRU GUJARAT | KALLANMULA,
KURATHIMULA, KORNA KERALA | NARVEL
MAHARASHTRA | SALIA ORISSA | KALMUNGIL
TAMIL NADU
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
FOUND NORMALLY AT ALTITUDES UP TO 1000 M,
IN DRY, OPEN DECIDUOUS FORESTS. WIDELY
DISTRIBUTED, IT IS THE MOST COMMON BAMBOO
IN INDIA.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 10 M TALL, ERECT BUT
SLIGHTLY ARCHED AT THE TOP.
• FLOWERING
FLOWERING INTERVALS ARE LONG (25-45 YEARS).
• USES
THE CULMS ARE USED AS BUILDING MATERIAL
AND FOR MAKING FURNITURE, MATS, BASKETRY
AND IMPLEMENTS.
 BAMBOO
DENDROCALAMUS STRICTUS
 BAMBOO
OXYTENANTHERA STOCKSII
• LOCAL NAMES
KONDA, OOR-SHEMA KARNATAKA | UYI,
MULA KERALA | CHIVARI, MES
MAHARASHTRA |
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
TYPICALLY GROWS FROM SEA LEVEL TO
ALTITUDES OF 800 M. CONFINED AND
ENDEMIC TO SOUTHERN PENINSULAR
INDIA.
• CULM
THE CULM UP TO 10 M TALL, STRAIGHT
AT THE TOP, YELLOWISH GREEN, ERECT.
• FLOWERING
SPORADIC.
• USES
SUITED FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES.
ALSO USED FOR MAKING FURNITURE,
LADDERS AND SUPPORTS.
 BAMBOO
OXYTENANTHERA STOCKSII
 BAMBOO
MELOCANNA BAMBUSOIDES
• LOCAL NAMES
MAUTAK MIZORAM | TARAI ASSAM:
BRAHMAPUTRA VALLEY | ARTEN ASSAM:
KARBI-ANGLONG | MULI BENGAL, TRIPURA,
ASSAM: BARAK VALLEY | WATRAI
MEGHALAYA: GARO HILLS | MOUBI MANIPUR |
TURIAH NAGALAND
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
FOUND CHIEFLY IN THE NORTH - EASTERN
PART OF THE COUNTRY. IT GROWS BEST ON
LOW HILLS AND IN UNDULATING
COUNTRYSIDE.
• CULM
CULMS ARISE SINGLY FROM THE RHIZOME AT
A DISTANCE.
• FLOWERING
GREGARIOUS. FLOWERING CYCLE IS ABOUT
40-44YEARS.
• USES
USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES FOR
MAKING WOVEN PRODUCTS. AN IMPORTANT
SOURCE FOR PAPER PULP.
 BAMBOO
MELOCANNA BAMBUSOIDES
 BAMBOO
OCHLANDRA TRAVANCORICA
• LOCAL NAMES
EERA, EATTA, EARAKALLI, KREETTA,
ODA KERALA | ODAI TAMIL NADU
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
THRIVES IN MOIST DECIDUOUS AND
SEMI-EVERGREEN FORESTS.
CONFINED TO THE SOUTHERN
WESTERN GHATS.
• CULM
THE CULM IS UP TO 8 M TALL, ERECT.
• FLOWERING
GREGARIOUS. FLOWERING INTERVAL
IS 7-15 YEARS.
• USES
USED FOR BASKETRY, MAT-MAKING
AND DECORATIVE HANDICRAFTS.
 BAMBOO
OCHLANDRA TRAVANCORICA
 BAMBOO
SCHIZOSTACHYUM DULLOOA
• LOCAL NAMES
DULLOOA ASSAM | WADROO
MEGHALAYA
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
GROWS IN THE LOWER
ELEVATIONS UP TO AN ALTITUDE
OF 1200 M IN THE NORTHEASTERN
REGION OF INDIA.
• CULM
VARIABLE IN SIZE, 6-9 M TALL.
• FLOWERING
GREGARIOUS AND SPORADIC
• USES
MAKING BASKETS, MATS AND
SMALL BOXES.
 BAMBOO
SCHIZOSTACHYUM DULLOOA
 BAMBOO
THYROSTACHYS OLIVERI
• LOCAL NAMES
KANAK KAI (TRIPURA)
• HABITAT & DISTRIBUTION
INTRODUCED INTO TRIPURA
• CULM
SOLID, UPTO 7 M IN HEIGHT.
• USAGE
FISHING RODS, JAVELINS, POLE
VAULT POLES. SHOOTS ARE
EDIBLE.
• USES
SUITED FOR SPORTS GOOD
APPLICATIONS BECAUSE OF ITS
DIMENSIONS, SOLID NATURE,
FLEXIBILITY AND OTHER
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES.
 BAMBOO
THYROSTACHYS OLIVERI
 BAMBOO
ANATOMY OF BAMBOO
This deals with the morphology and
physiology of the bamboo plant.
Morphology refers to the outward appearance
of the plant’s components, while physiology
refers to their biological function.
The main components of a bamboo plant
include rhizomes, roots, culms, branches,
leaves, and flowers.
BAMBOO
 BAMBOO
RHIZOME
• HORIZONTAL STEMS EXTENDING FROM THE DOMAIN PLANT THAT TRAVEL
UNDERGROUND WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF COLONIZING NEW TERRITORY.
• A RHIZOME STOLON WILL GROW IN LENGTH BY 1 - 6 M PER ANNUM WITH AN
AVERAGE LIFE SPAN OF TEN YEARS.
• SPREAD THROUGH THE SOIL THEY COLLECT AND STORE THE PRIMARY
NUTRIENTS FOR GROWTH.
• RHIZOMES ARE SEGMENTED AND
COVERED BY A PROTECTIVE SHEATH.
• A HEALTHY RHIZOME IS USUALLY
SLIGHTLY YELLOW OR IVORY IN COLOR,
ALTHOUGH POSSIBLE COLORS MAY INCLUDE
RED, BROWN, GREEN, AND PURPLE.
• THE APPEARANCE AND BEHAVIOUR OF
RHIZOMES DIFFERS AMONG SPECIES, AND
IS DIVIDED INTO TWO MAIN CATEGORIES
 BAMBOO
ROOTS
• THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF ROOTS IN BAMBOO IS TO ANCHOR THE CULM TO
THE GROUND.
• ALSO ALLOWS THE CULM TO HOLD MORE
WEIGHT, GIVING IT THE ABILITY TO GROW
MORE LEAVES OVER WIDER DISTANCES.
• THE ROOTS DO STORE NUTRIENTS, BUT
THIS IS NOT THEIR PRIMARY FUNCTION.
• IN APPEARANCE, THE ROOTS ARE
TYPICALLY SYMMETRICAL IN SIZE AND
SHAPE.
• THEY FORM AT THE BASE OF THE
CULM FROM THE RHIZOME NODES, AND
GENERALLY GO NO DEEPER THAN ONE
FOOT BELOW THE SURFACE.
 BAMBOO
CULMS

• THE APPEARANCE CAN RANGE

FROM THICK OR THIN, TALL OR SHORT,
ERECT OR BENT, AND CAN EXHIBIT
IRREGULAR PATTERNS.
• CULMS CAN VARY IN SIZE, SHAPE,
COLOR, AND EVEN SMELL.
• MOST CULMS ARE ROUND IN SHAPE,
BUT SOME SPECIES CAN TAKE ON A
SQUARE LIKE APPEARANCE.
 BAMBOO
CULMS
• ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF BAMBOOS ARE GREEN, THEY CAN
ALSO BE BROWN, BLACK, YELLOW, OR STRIPED.
• ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR GARDEN BAMBOOS, BLACK BAMBOO
(PHYLLOSTACHYS NIGRA), IS UNIQUE IN THE FACT THAT THE CULMS
EXHIBIT A NEARLY JET BLACK COLOR.
• THE CULMS CAN ALSO VARY IN SMELL. ONE OF THE MOST
INTERESTING EXAMPLES IS INCENSE BAMBOO (PHYLLOSTACHYS
ATROVAGINATA), WHICH HAS A WAXY COAT ON THE CULMS THAT
EMITS A PLEASANT FRAGRANCE SIMILAR TO INCENSE.
• NEW CULMS GENERALLY EMERGE IN THE SPRINGTIME, HOWEVER
TIMING WILL VARY AMONG SPECIES.
• THE NEWLY EMERGING CULM WILL GROW RAPIDLY AND REACH ITS
FINAL HEIGHT BY THE END OF THE FIRST GROWING SEASON.
 BAMBOO
BRANCHES
• THE MAJORITY OF BAMBOO SPECIES WILL GROW MULTIPLE
BRANCHES FROM A SINGLE BUD, LOCATED AT THE NODE. SOME
GENERA, SUCH AS CHUSQUEA, HAVE THE ABILITY TO GROW
MULTIPLE BUDS FROM EACH NODE.
• THE TIMING AND APPEARANCE OF BRANCHES CAN VARY
SUBSTANTIALLY AMONG THE DIFFERENT GENERA.
• IN MANY RUNNING BAMBOOS, SUCH AS PHYLLOSTACHYS, THE
BRANCHES WILL START TO GROW ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
PROTECTIVE SHEATHS FALL OFF.
• IN OTHER BAMBOOS, BRANCHES MAY NOT APPEAR FOR AN ENTIRE
YEAR.
• THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE BRANCHES SERVES AS A METHOD OF
IDENTIFYING THE SPECIES OF BAMBOO
 BAMBOO
LEAVES
• LEAVES ARE PRESENT AT EVERY MAIN PORTION OF THE BAMBOO PLANT,
WHICH INCLUDES THE RHIZOMES, CULM, AND BRANCHES.
• THE ANATOMY OF THE LEAF ITSELF
INCLUDES A BLADE, SHEATH, AND LIGULES.
• LEAVES ARE FIRST PRESENT IN THE
RHIZOME WHERE THEY ARE ALMOST
COMPLETELY COMPRISED OF THE SHEATH.
AT THIS STAGE, LEAVES SERVE AS A
PROTECTIVE COVER TO ENCASE THE
RHIZOME AS IT TRAVELS UNDERGROUND.
AFTER THE RHIZOME SHOOTS THROUGH
THE SOIL AND BECOMES A CULM, THE
BLADE WILL BECOME THE PREDOMINANT FEATURE.
• THE BLADE PROVIDES THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC FUNCTION OF THE PLANT BY
CONVERTING SUNLIGHT INTO ENERGY.
 BAMBOO
LEAVES
• THE APPEARANCE OF THE BLADE VARIES AMONG SPECIES. IN SOME SPECIES
THE LEAVES ARE VERY LARGE AND LESS NUMEROUS, WHILE OTHER SPECIES
HAVE A LARGE AMOUNT OF VERY SMALL LEAVES. THE APPEARANCE OF
LEAVES PLAYS A LARGE ROLE IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF BAMBOO.
 BAMBOO
TYPES OF BAMBOO
CHARACTERISED BY THE TYPE OF RHIZOME AND THE
FORMATION OF UPRIGHT CANES THERE ARE TWO MAIN
GROUPS OF BAMBOO.
• MONOPODIAL BAMBOOS
• SYMPODIAL BAMBOOS
IN INDIA SYMPODIAL BAMBOOS CONSTITUTE ABOUT 67%
OF THE TOTAL GROWING STOCK AND THE MONOPODIAL
BAMBOOS CONSTITUTE THE REMAINING 33%.
 BAMBOO
MONOPODIAL BAMBOOS
ALSO KNOWN AS RUNNING BAMBOOS AS THEY FORM LONG
AND THIN EXTENSIONS OF THE RHIZOME PRESENT UNDER THE
GROUND WHOSE BUDS PRODUCE SINGLE SHOOTS AT REGULAR
INTERVALS.
• MONOPODIAL BAMBOOS CAN BE
EASILY SEGREGATED BY MATURITY
PERIOD AND HARVESTING IS MUCH
EASIER.
• COLDER COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA AND
JAPAN HOST MONOPODIAL BAMBOOS.
• RUNNERS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED
TO TRAVEL OVER 20 FEET IN A SINGLE
SEASON UNDERGROUND.
 BAMBOO
• MONOPODIAL BAMBOOS
 BAMBOO
• SYMPODIAL BAMBOOS
ALSO KNOWN AS CLUMPING BAMBOOS, HAVE SHORT, THICK ROOTSTOCKS
THE TIPS OF WHICH PRODUCE THE CANES.
THE PATTERNS OF CLUMPS CAN ALSO
VARY IN CASE OF SYMPODIAL
BAMBOOS WHERE BAMBOO CULMS
IN A CLUMP CAN BE CLOSELY SPACED
(BAMBUSA BAMBOS) OR LOOSELY
SPREAD OUT (BAMBUSA VULGARIS).
SYMPODIAL BAMBOOS CANNOT
BE SEGREGATED BY MATURITY
PERIOD AND HARVESTING IS NOT
EASIER.
 BAMBOO
• SYMPODIAL BAMBOOS
 BAMBOO
• CLIMBING BAMBOOS.
THEY CAN GROW VERY IRREGULARLY AND MAY FORM
IMPENETRABLE THICKETS.
BAMBOO
 BAMBOO
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
THE MAIN AREA OF DISTRIBUTION ARE THE TROPICS, IN PARTICULAR, SOUTH-
EAST-ASIA. BAMBOO GROW AT SEA LEVEL AND CAN BE FOUND AT ALTITUDES OF
UP TO 3800 M.
BAMBOOS ARE OF NOTABLE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE IN
SOUTH ASIA, SOUTH EAST ASIA AND EAST ASIA, BEING USED FOR BUILDING
MATERIALS, AS A FOOD SOURCE, AND AS A VERSATILE RAW PRODUCT.
CHINA HAS MORE THAN 400 SPECIES SPREAD OVER 6.8 MILLION HECTARES. IT
HAS THE LARGEST AREA OF PHYLLOSTACHYS IN THE WORLD. IN JAPAN, WHERE A
HUNDRED OF SPECIES HAS BEEN INVENTORIZED, ONLY 15 ARE WIDESPREAD AND
CULTIVATED.
AMERICA AND SOUTH AFRICA ALSO CONTAIN VAST VARIETIES OF BAMBOO. IN
SOME OF THESE COUNTRIES IT IS RELATED TO THE CULTURE, THE CONSTRUCTION
AND THE HISTORY.
NORTHERN AUSTRALIA HAS FEW ENDEMIC SPECIES. BAMBOO IS USED IN
AGRICULTURAL FARMS AS A COMPONENT OF THE ECOSYSTEM.
 BAMBOO
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
INDIA HAS THE LARGEST AREA UNDER BAMBOO IN THE WORLD,
ESTIMATED 11.36 MILLION HECTARES. INDIA HAS 136 SPECIES OF BAMBOO.
NORTH-EAST INDIA SUPPORTS ABOUT 50% OF THE TOTAL GENETIC
RESOURCES WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY PENINSULAR INDIA WHERE THE
EASTERN AND THE WESTERN GHATS ARE LOCATED WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR
ABOUT 23% OF THE GENETIC RESOURCES OCCURRING NATURALLY. NORTH-
WESTERN INDIA, INDO-GANGETIC PLAINS AND THE ANDAMAN & NICOBAR
ISLANDS ACCOUNT FOR THE REMAINING DIVERSITY. MORE THAN 50% OF
BAMBOO SPECIES OCCURRING IN INDIA ARE ENDEMIC, AND ROUGHLY 19
SPECIES ARE RARE AND THREATENED.
MOST BAMBOO SPECIES GROW AT TEMPERATURES FROM -28°C TO +50°C.
BAMBOOS GROW MAINLY ON SANDY LOAM TO LOAMY CLAY SOILS. THEY
PREFER WELL DRAINED SOILS BUT GROW ALSO IN WET AND EVEN MARSHY
LOCATIONS. THEY DO NOT TOLERATE SALINE SOILS.
 BAMBOO
PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO
TENSILE STRENGHT:
THE FIBRES OF THE BAMBOO RUN AXIAL. IN THE OUTER ZONE ARE
HIGHLY ELASTIC VASCULAR BUNDLE, THAT HAVE A HIGH TENSILE
STRENGTH. THE TENSILE STRENGHT OF THESE FIBRES IS HIGHER
THAN THAT OF STEEL, BUT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO CONSTRUCT
CONNECTIONS THAT CAN TRANSFER THESE TENSILE STRENGTHS.
SHRINKING:
BAMBOO SHRINKS MORE THAN WOOD WHEN IT LOSES WATER. THE
CANES CAN TEAR APART AT THE NODES. BAMBOO SHRINKS IN THE
CROSS SECTION CA. 10-16 %, IN THE WALL THICKNESS CA. 15-17 %.
 BAMBOO
FIRE RESISTANCE:
THE FIRE RESISTANCE IS VERY GOOD BECAUSE
OF THE HIGH CONTENT OF SILICATE ACID.
FILLED UP WITH WATER, IT CAN STAND A
TEMPERATURE OF 400° C WHILE THE WATER
COOKS INSIDE.
ELASTICITY:
THE ENORMOUS ELASTICITY OF BAMBOO MAKES IT TO A
VERY GOOD BUILDING MATERIAL FOR EARTH-QUAKE ENDANGERED
AREAS.
ANOTHER ADVANTAGE OF BAMBOO IS ITS LOW WEIGHT. IT
CAN BE TRANSPORTED AND WORKED EASILY, THE USE OF
CRANES IS MOSTLY UNNECESSARY.
 BAMBOO
STRENGTH
• BAMBOO IS A FASCINATING MATERIAL DUE TO ITS INCREDIBLE STRENGTH,
REGENERATIVE PROPERTIES, AND ITS NATURAL AESTHETIC BEAUTY.
• THE STRENGTH OF BAMBOO IS IN ITS MOLECULAR STRUCTURE, WHICH
FORMS A LIGNIN MATRIX, A COMPLEX STRUCTURE FOR THE CELLULOSE
MOLECULES THAT MAKE UP THE BAMBOO PLANT.
• THIS STRENGTH, WHICH HAS TRANSLATED INTO BAMBOO BEING USED IN
CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT (IN REPLACEMENT OF RE-BAR), AS
SCAFFOLDING, AND EVEN AS FRAMING MATERIAL FOR LARGE MULTI-STOREY
BUILDINGS.
• BAMBOO'S STRENGTH COMES WITH YET ANOTHER STAGGERING BENEFIT:
THE STRENGTH TO WEIGHT RATIO OF BAMBOO IS HIGHER THAN GRAPHITE.
• IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING TESTS, BAMBOO HAS A HIGHER TENSILE
STRENGTH THAN MANY ALLOYS OF STEEL, AND A HIGHER COMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH THAN MANY MIXTURES OF CONCRETE
• BAMBOO HAS BEEN USED AS THE STANDARD BUILDING MATERIAL FOR
MAJORITY OF THE WORLD FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS. THERE ARE MANY
EXAMPLES OF BUILDINGS CONSTRUCTED ENTIRELY OF BAMBOO, WHICH ARE
NOW SEVERAL HUNDRED YEARS OLD. DUE TO THEIR STRENGTH, THESE
STRUCTURES HAVE EVEN WITHSTOOD 9.0 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKES.
 BAMBOO
HARVESTING
• BAMBOO USED FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES MUST BE HARVESTED WHEN
THE CULMS REACH THEIR GREATEST STRENGTH AND WHEN SUGAR LEVELS
IN THE SAP ARE AT THEIR LOWEST, AS HIGH SUGAR CONTENT INCREASES THE
EASE AND RATE OF PEST INFESTATION.
HARVESTING OF BAMBOO IS TYPICALLY UNDERTAKEN ACCORDING TO
THE FOLLOWING CYCLES:
• LIFE CYCLE OF THE CULM: AS EACH INDIVIDUAL CULM GOES THROUGH A
5–7 YEAR LIFE CYCLE, CULMS ARE IDEALLY ALLOWED TO REACH THIS LEVEL
OF MATURITY PRIOR TO FULL CAPACITY HARVESTING. THE CLEARING OUT
OR THINNING OF CULMS, PARTICULARLY OLDER DECAYING CULMS, HELPS
TO ENSURE ADEQUATE LIGHT AND RESOURCES FOR NEW GROWTH. WELL-
MAINTAINED CLUMPS MAY HAVE A PRODUCTIVITY THREE TO FOUR TIMES
THAT OF AN UNHARVESTED WILD CLUMP.
CONSISTENT WITH THE LIFE CYCLE DESCRIBED ABOVE, BAMBOO IS
HARVESTED FROM TWO TO THREE YEARS THROUGH TO FIVE TO SEVEN
YEARS, DEPENDING ON THE SPECIES.
 BAMBOO

• ANNUAL CYCLE: AS ALL GROWTH OF NEW BAMBOO OCCURS DURING THE

WET SEASON, DISTURBING THE CLUMP DURING THIS PHASE WILL
POTENTIALLY DAMAGE THE UPCOMING CROP. ALSO DURING THIS HIGH RAIN
FALL PERIOD, SAP LEVELS ARE AT THEIR HIGHEST, AND THEN DIMINISH
TOWARDS THE DRY SEASON. PICKING IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE
WET/GROWTH SEASON MAY ALSO DAMAGE NEW SHOOTS. HENCE,
HARVESTING IS BEST AT THE END OF THE DRY SEASON, A FEW MONTHS
PRIOR TO THE START OF THE WET.
• DAILY CYCLE: DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE DAY, PHOTOSYNTHESIS IS AT ITS
PEAK, PRODUCING THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF SUGAR IN SAP, MAKING THIS THE
LEAST IDEAL TIME OF DAY TO HARVEST. MANY TRADITIONAL
PRACTITIONERS BELIEVE THE BEST TIME TO HARVEST IS AT DAWN OR DUSK
ON A WANING MOON. THIS PRACTICE MAKES SENSE IN TERMS OF BOTH MOON
CYCLES, VISIBILITY AND DAILY CYCLES.
• THE CORRECT SEASONS FOR FELLING ARE AUTUMN AND WINTER IN THE
SUBTROPICS AND THE DRY SEASON IN THE TROPICS.
 BAMBOO
PROCESSING
IF YOU HAVE RAW OR FRESH BAMBOO, YOU WILL NEED TO
PROCESS THE BAMBOO FIRST. IN TRADITIONAL TIMES, BAMBOO WAS
PROCESSED BY SITTING OUTDOORS AND DRYING FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS. HOWEVER, YOU CAN FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS TO THIS WITH
NEWER WAYS OF TAKING CARE OF YOUR BAMBOO. A SIMPLE WAY TO
PROCESS THE BAMBOO IS TO USE FIRE TO DRY OUT THE BAMBOO.
CUTTING PIECES OF IT AND PUTTING IT IN THE OVEN OR USING A
WELDING TORCH ARE SIMPLE WAYS TO DRY OUT THE BAMBOO.
WHEN YOU DO THIS, IT SHOULD TURN FROM GREEN TO BROWN.
 BAMBOO
TREATMENT AND PRESERVATION OF BAMBOO
BAMBOO IS SUBJECT TO ATTACK BY MICRO-ORGANISMS AND
INSECTS IN ALMOST ANY CONSTRUCTION APPLICATION.
A VARIETY OF METHODS TO IMPROVE THE DURABILITY OF BAMBOO
AND PRESERVE IT HAVE, HOWEVER, BEEN DEVELOPED.
TRADITIONAL METHODS OR NON CHEMICAL METHODS
NON-CHEMICAL METHODS OF PRESERVATION, ALSO KNOWN AS
TRADITIONAL METHODS ARE WIDELY USED BY VILLAGERS AND CAN BE
UNDERTAKEN WITHOUT THE USE OF ANY SPECIAL OR SOPHISTICATED PLANT
AND EQUIPMENT OR SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN COSTS.

• SIMPLE CONSTRUCTIVE MEASURES

LIKE LIFTING UP THE PILLARS OR AN
OUT JUTTING ROOF CAN HELP TO EXTEND
THE LIFE TIME OF THE BAMBOO
DISTINCTLY.
 BAMBOO
SMOKING
ANOTHER POSSIBITLITY TO
PRESERVE THE BAMBOO IS SMOKING
IT IN ITS OWN RESIN. THE SMOKE
MAKES THE RIND UNPALATABLE TO
INSECTS WHICH THEREFORE
DECLINE THE BAMBOO.

OVEN TO SMOKE BAMBOO

BAMBOO

HEATING
THE CANES ARE HEATED IN KILNS TO
150°C FOR A SHORT TIME, SO THE
STRUCTURE OF THE OUTER ZONE
CHANGES AND BECOMES MORE RESISTANT
AGAINST INSECTS. WHEN YOU COOK
BAMBOO, THE STARCH AND NUTRIENT
CONTENT WILL BE REDUCED. THE
PROBLEM IS TO FIND A CONTAINER THAT IS
BIG ENOUGH TO COOK THE CANES IN IT.
 BAMBOO
IMMERSION
FRESHLY CUT BAMBOOS ARE IMMERSED IN WATER FOR 4-12
WEEKS. THE NOURISHMENT FOR INSECTS (STARCH AND
SUGAR) IS REMOVED. STREAMS ARE MORE SUITABLE THAN
STAGNANT PONDS. SALTWATER IS NOT SUITABLE, BECAUSE
THE SALT WILL STAY IN THE BAMBOO AND CAN BRING
MOISTURE AND FUNGI INTO THE CANES.
IMPREGNATING COATINGS
COATINGS WITH BORAX ARE ECOLOGICAL AND WIDELY
USED. IN ADDITION, LIME SLURRIES, RANGOO OIL OR COW
DUNG ARE ALSO USED. USING INSECTICES IS ECOLOGICALLY
NOT ACCEPTABLE. THESE ARE KEROSENE, DDT, PCP AND
OTHERS.
 BAMBOO
CHEMICAL TREATMENT METHOD
WHEN COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL METHODS, THE USE OF
CHEMICALS FOR THE PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT OF BAMBOO IS
MORE EFFECTIVE IN PROVIDING PROTECTION AGAINST BIOLOGICAL
DETERIORATION. HOWEVER, CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES ARE
INVARIABLY TOXIC AND DUE CARE AND ATTENTION SHOULD BE
EXERCISED WHENEVER THEY ARE USED
• BUTT TREATMENT
• OPEN TANK METHOD FOR COLD SOAKING
• BOUCHERIE METHOD
• MODIFIED BOUCHERIE METHOD
• PRESSURE TREATMENT
• L-LOT AND COLD BATH PROCESS
• GLUE LINE TREATMENT
 BAMBOO
• BUTT TREATMENT
THE BUTT ENDS OF FRESHLY CUT CULMS, WITH THE BRANCHES
AND LEAVES INTACT, ARE PLACED IN A DRUM CONTAINING THE
PRESERVATIVE. THE CONTINUED TRANSPIRATION OF THE LEAVES
DRAWS THE CHEMICAL SOLUTION INTO THE VESSELS OF THE CULM.
THE METHOD IS USED FOR THE TREATMENT OF SHORTER CULMS
WITH A HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT (GREEN OR FRESHLY CUT). BUTT
TREATMENT IS USUALLY APPLIED TO BAMBOO POSTS.
• OPEN TANK METHOD FOR COLD SOAKING
THE OPEN TANK TREATMENT METHOD IS ECONOMICAL, SIMPLE
AND PROVIDES GOOD EFFECTIVE PROTECTION FOR BAMBOO. CULMS,
WHICH HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO SIZE, ARE SUBMERGED IN A
SOLUTION OF A WATER-SOLUBLE PRESERVATIVE FOR A PERIOD OF
SEVERAL DAYS. THE SOLUTION ENTERS THE CULM THROUGH THE
ENDS AND SIDES BY MEANS OF DIFFUSION.
BAMBOO

Open tank method for soaking

Cross section of open tank

 BAMBOO
• BOUCHERIE METHOD
THE BOUCHERIE METHOD REQUIRES THE CULMS TO BE IN A
GREEN CONDITION. THE WATER-TRANSPORTING PART OF THE
CULM CAN BE PENETRATED COMPLETELY AND THE TREATMENT
ITSELF IS APPLIED BY AN INEXPENSIVE INSTALLATION.
PRESERVATIVE IS FED BY GRAVITY FROM A CONTAINER PLACED
AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN THE CULM THROUGH PIPES INTO ITS
BASE END. THE CULMS ARE FASTENED TO THE TUBES BY RUBBER
SHEATHS AND CLAMPS. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE TO HANG THE CULM
VERTICALLY AND TO SCRATCH THE INNER WALL OF THE TOP
INTERNODE IN ORDER TO USE IT AS A RESERVOIR FOR TREATMENT.
THE TREATMENT IS TERMINATED WHEN THE SOLUTION AT THE
DRIPPING END SHOWS A SUFFICIENTLY HIGH CONCENTRATION OF
CHEMICALS.
 BAMBOO
• BOUCHERIE METHOD
 BAMBOO
• MODIFIED BOUCHERIE METHOD
THE BASIC BOUCHERIE METHOD HAS BEEN IMPROVED BY
THE INTRODUCTION OF PNEUMATIC PRESSURE OVER THE
PRESERVATIVE FLUID IN A RESERVOIR, FOR EXAMPLE BY USING
AN AIR PUMP OR ELECTRIC PUMP. THE PRESERVATIVE IS FORCED
AXIALLY THROUGH THE CULM BY THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE
RESERVOIR. IN THIS WAY THE TIME OF TREATMENT CAN BE REDUCED
FROM SEVERAL DAYS TO 3-8 HOURS. IN OTHER RESPECTS THE
PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO THAT FOR THE BASIC BOUCHERIE METHOD.
 BAMBOO
• PRESSURE TREATMENT METHOD
PRESSURE TREATMENT, USING EITHER CREOSOTE OR
WATERMETHOD BORNE PRESERVATIVES, OFFERS THE BEST METHOD
OF PRESERVATION FOR BAMBOO CULMS. ACCORDINGLY, COSTS ARE
HIGH, BUT A SERVICE LIFE OF UP TO 15 YEARS CAN BE EXPECTED
FROM ADEQUATELY TREATED BAMBOO WHEN USED IN THE OPEN
AND IN CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE
SUFFICIENT CHEMICAL PENETRATION AND ABSORPTION, THE CULMS
MUST BE AIR DRIED PRIOR TO TREATMENT. ALSO, SINCE THE INNER
SKIN OF THE CULM IS SLIGHTLY MORE PERMEABLE THAN THE OUTER
SKIN, SPLIT CULMS CAN BE TREATED MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN IN
THE ROUND.
 BAMBOO
• HOT AND COLD PROCESS
WHEN PRESSURE TREATMENT FACILITIES ARE NOT AVAILABLE THE
HOT AND COLD BATH PROCESS OFFERS AN ACCEPTABLE
ALTERNATIVE. THE BAMBOO IS SUBMERGED IN A TANK OF
PRESERVATIVE WHICH IS THEN HEATED, EITHER DIRECTLY OVER A
FIRE OR INDIRECTLY BY MEANS OF STEEL COILS IN THE TANK. THE
BATH TEMPERATURE IS RAISED TO ABOUT 90°C HELD AT THAT
TEMPERATURE FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND THEN ALLOWED TO
COOL.
 BAMBOO
• GLUE LINE TREATMENT
GLUE LINE TREATMENT IS SPECIFIC TO THE MANUFACTURE OF
BAMBOO MAT BOARD AND INVOLVES ADDING PRESERVATIVES TO
THE GLUE DURING MANUFACTURE. THIS PROCESS IS ALSO MORE
ECONOMICAL THAN USING ADHESIVES OF A HIGHER SOLID CONTENT.
ADDITIVES WHICH HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE
PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT WITHOUT IMPAIRING THE BOND
STRENGTH OF THE MAT BOARD INCLUDE 1% CHLORDANE OR 1%
SODIUM OCTABORATE TETRAHYDRATE WITH A 1:2 DILUTED PF
SOLUTION CONTAINING 17% SOLID CONTENT.
 BAMBOO
PROTECTION OF BAMBOO
IN BAMBOO, SOLUBLE SUGARS FORM THE PRINCIPAL NUTRIENTS
FOR DEGRADING ORGANISMS. THEREFORE, IF THESE CAN BE REMOVED
FROM THE CULMS, THE RISK OF DECAY IS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. A
NUMBER OF METHODS FOR LOWERING THE SUGAR CONTENT HAVE BEEN
ADOPTED:
• FELLING DURING LOW SUGAR CONTENT SEASON
SUGAR CONTENT IN ALMOST ALL PLANTS VARIES ACCORDING TO SEASON.
IN INDIA, FOR EXAMPLE, IT IS HIGHER IN SPRING THAN IN WINTER. IT IS
THEREFORE ADVISABLE TO HARVEST BAMBOO DURING THE WINTER
MONTHS AND DRY SEASON.
• FELLING OF MATURE BAMBOO
SUGAR CONTENT IN BAMBOO VARIES WITH AGE AND IS LOWEST DURING THE
FIRST YEAR. HOWEVER, THE USEFULNESS OF VERY YOUNG BAMBOOS IS
LIMITED DUE TO THEIR LOW STRENGTH AND YIELD.
 BAMBOO

• POST-HARVESTING TRANSPIRATION OF BAMBOO CULM

SUGAR CONTENT IN BAMBOO CAN ALSO BE REDUCED BY KEEPING CULMS
UPRIGHT OR LEANING THEM AGAINST TREES FOR A FEW DAYS, WITH THE
BRANCHES AND LEAVES INTACT. PARENCHYMA CELLS IN PLANTS CONTINUE
TO LIVE FOR SOMETIME, EVEN AFTER FELLING. DURING THIS PERIOD, THE
STORED FOOD MATERIALS ARE UTILISED AND THUS THE SUGAR CONTENT OF
THE BAMBOO IS LOWERED.
BAMBOO

TREATMENT OF BAMBOOS
Bleaching:
Bleaching in hydrogen peroxide removes traces of resin or wax. If it
stays in it too long, the bamboo will get perished.
Dyeing:
Every country has developed its own traditional method of dyeing. In
principle:
1. Remove the wax, otherwise the colour can´t penetrate into the
bamboo.
2. Bleach befor dyeing, so the colour will become more regular.
3. After dyeing, fix the colour in a solution of vinegar.
BAMBOO

Other methods:
In Japan, the surface will be peeled off, hydrochlorid
acid is put on the bamboo and the canes are put in an
oven. The canes get a brown colour. Treating the canes
with copper sulfate will give a green colour to the
bamboo and protects it from mold.
BAMBOO
WORKING OF TOOLS

BAMBOO IS USED FOR EVERYTHING FROM SCAFFOLDING ON MODERN

HIGH-RISE CONSTRUCTION TO SMALL CONCERT FLUTES. BAMBOO IS
TOUGH AND DURABLE, AND IF HANDLED PROPERLY WITH THE RIGHT
TOOLS LIKE SAWS, AXES AND SPLITTERS, IT IS TREMENDOUSLY STRONG.
THE HARD OUTER SHELL OF THIS GRASS HAS A DEFINITE GRAIN THAT
SPLITS OPEN OR CRACKS EASILY, WHILE THE INNER WOOD OF THE
BAMBOO IS DURABLE AND SOFTER.
BAMBOO CAN BE WORKED WITH THE SIMPLEST TOOLS WHICH MUST
BE ESPECIALLY SHARP BECAUSE OF THE HIGHLY SILICIFIED OUTER ZONE.
TOOL WEAR IS CONSIDERABLY HIGH.
BAMBOO
WORKING OF TOOLS

SPLITTERS
IF YOU ARE GOING TO USE ANY PART OF THE BAMBOO OTHER THAN A
WHOLE POLE, YOU NEED TO SPLIT IT. SPLITTERS COME IN ALL SIZES AND
WITH DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF BLADES. THESE ARE DESIGNED MUCH
LIKE A PIE CUTTER WITH BLADES RADIATING OUT TO AN OUTER RING.
THEY CAN SPLIT THE BAMBOO INTO FOUR, SIX OR EIGHT STRIPS
DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF BLADES THEY HAVE. CUTTING WITH A
MACHETE-TYPE OR KNIFE USED FOR CUTTING, SAWING AND
SCORCH DRILLING.
BAMBOO
WORKING OF TOOLS

Splitting of a bamboo cane Splitting bamboo with a knife frame

BAMBOO
HACK SAWS
HACK SAWS WITH A STRAIGHT BLADE ARE A DECENT SUBSTITUTE FOR
THE JAPANESE WOODWORKING SAW. TO USE THESE IN CUTTING A
BAMBOO POLE, SET THE BLADE IN THE HANDLE SO THAT IT CUTS ON THE
PULL AND ROTATE THE BAMBOO SO THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS LETTING THE
TEETH BITE INTO THE SURFACE AWAY FROM YOU. THIS WILL AVOID
SPLINTERING THE OUTER SKIN.
STRIPPING KNIVES
ONCE YOU HAVE THE POLE CUT TO YOUR PREFERRED LENGTH AND SPLIT
INTO THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF STRIPS, YOU MAY NEED TO TRIM THE
INNER NODES FLAT OR EVEN SPLIT THE STRIPS FURTHER. THE TOOL FOR
THIS JOB IS THE STRIPPING KNIFE. THE SMALL JAPANESE UTILITY KNIFE
DESIGNED FOR THIS PURPOSE HAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY KEEN BLADE
BECAUSE IT IS ONLY SHARPENED FROM ONE SIDE LIKE AN AMERICAN
CHISEL.
BAMBOO
JAPANESE SAWS
JAPANESE WOODWORKING SAWS ARE IDEAL FOR USE WITH
BAMBOO BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY THIN AND PRECISE. THEY ARE
DESIGNED TO CUT ONLY ON THE DRAW SO THERE IS NO NEED FOR
A THICK BLADE TO SUPPORT A PUSHING CUT. THE TEETH ARE SET
STRAIGHT AND ALLOW YOU TO CUT BAMBOO WITHOUT
SPLITERING THE OUTER SKIN.
ROOT AXES
IF YOU ARE USING THE INTACT ROOT STOCK OF THE BAMBOO FOR
ANY PURPOSE, SUCH AS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE JAPANESE
FLUTE CALLED THE SHAKUHACHI, YOU WILL NEED A SPECIALIZED
TOOL TO DIG OUT THE ROOT BALL WITHOUT DAMAGING IT. A
ROOT AXE IS LIKE A THIN BLADED AXE WITH A HEAVY BACK THAT
CAN BE HIT WITH A HAMMER. DRIVE IT INTO THE GROUND
AROUND THE PLANT TO SEVER THE RUNNER ROOTS; PRYING ON
THE HANDLE THEN UPROOTS THE STALK AND PULLS THE ROOT
STOCK OUT OF THE GROUND
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
BAMBOO IS UTILIZED FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES DEPENDING UPON ITS PROPERTIES.
IT PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE DAILY LIFE OF PEOPLE

•AS FOOD MATERIAL

•MAKING BASKETS, MATS AND MANY OTHER PRODUCTS OF HOUSEHOLD USE WITH
BAMBOO THAT WAS ABUNDANTLY AVAILABLE IN NEARBY FORESTS
•MEDICINE
•FURNITURE
•TEXTILES
• WEAPONRY
•MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
•SOURCE OF CELLULOSE FOR PAPER MANUFACTURE AND RAYON.
•AGRICULTURAL TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS
•WATER PROCESSING
•TRANSPORTATION
•LANDSCAPING
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

• AS FOOD MATERIAL
•The shoots (new culms that come out of the ground) of bamboo are
edible.
•Bamboo is the main food of the Giant Panda
•Elephants, Mountain Gorillas, Chimps and Rats also feed on Bamboo
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

MAKING BASKETS, MATS AND

MANY OTHER PRODUCTS OF
HOUSEHOLD USE WITH BAMBOO
THAT WAS ABUNDANTLY
AVAILABLE IN NEARBY FORESTS
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

MEDICINE
• Bamboo is used in Chinese medicine for treating infections and
healing
•It is a low-calorie source of potassium. It is known for its sweet taste
and as a good source of nutrients and protein
•Used in Ayurveda and Indo –Persian system of medicine.

FURNITURE
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

FURNITURE
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
BAMBOO BRIDGES
IN CHINA AND INDIA, BAMBOO WAS USED TO HOLD UP SIMPLE SUSPENSION
BRIDGES, EITHER BY MAKING CABLES OF SPLIT BAMBOO OR TWISTING WHOLE
CULMS OF SUFFICIENTLY PLIABLE BAMBOO TOGETHER.
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO IN CONSTRUCTION
• SCAFFOLDING
• REINFORCEMENT
• ROOFING
• WALLING
• FLOORING
• DOORS & WINDOWS
• WATER PIPES EITHER BELOW OR ABOVEGROUND.

JAPANESE ARCHITECTURE, BAMBOO IS USED PRIMARILY AS A

SUPPLEMENTAL AND/OR DECORATIVE ELEMENT IN BUILDINGS
SUCH AS FENCING, FOUNTAINS, GRATES AND GUTTERS
IN CHINA AND INDIA, BAMBOO WAS USED TO HOLD UP SIMPLE
SUSPENSION BRIDGES, EITHER BY MAKING CABLES OF SPLIT
BAMBOO OR TWISTING WHOLE CULMS OF SUFFICIENTLY PLIABLE
BAMBOO TOGETHER.
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

• SCAFFOLDING
Because of the favourable
relationship between
load-bearing capacity and
weight, bamboo can be used
for the construction of
scaffoldings even for very
tall buildings.
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

• REINFORCEMENT
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

Bamboo mats: these are formed by weaving thin strips

of bamboo.
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

Bamboo mats:
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
ROOFING
The bamboo structure of a roof can comprise “cut’components
- purlins, rafters and laths or battens, or triangulated (trussed)
assemblies. Bamboo, in a variety of forms, is also used as a
roof covering and for ceilings.
ROOF COVERING
•Bamboo tiles
•Bamboo shingles
•Bamboo mats
•Corrugated bamboo roofing sheets
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
ROOFING
TILES
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
ROOFING
SHINGLES
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
ROOFING
TRUSSES
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
ROOFING
Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheet
(BMCS) which is durable, strong, water-proof,
and decay-insect-fire resistant.
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
ROOFING
Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheet
(BMCS) which is durable, strong, water-proof,
and decay-insect-fire resistant.
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

WALLING
The most extensive use of bamboo in construction is for walls and
partitions. The major elements of a bamboo wall (posts and beams)
generally constitute part of the structural framework.
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
• FLOORING
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

• DOORS
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

• CURTAINS AND BLINDS

BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

•BAMBOO PLYWOOD PANELS /LAMINATED BEAMS USED FOR ROOF

TRUSSES, SHEATHING BOARDS AND WALL PANELS
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

Salient Features of the Structures

• Bamboo posts
• Bamboo grid ferrocement walls
• Bamboo trusses and purlins
• Bamboo Mat Corrugated Sheet
Roofing
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

PRE FABRICATED HOUSES

BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

BAMBOO STRUCTURE
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO

BAMBOO STRUCTURE
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
BAMBOO
USES OF BAMBOO
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The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is
found throughout the tropics, where it is
interwoven into the lives of the local people.
It is particularly important in the low islands
of the Pacific where, in the absence of
land-based natural resources, it provides
almost all the necessities of life—food,
drink, oil, medicine, fiber, timber, thatch,
mats, fuel, and domestic utensils. For good
reason, it has been called the “tree of heaven”
and “tree of life.” Today it remains an important economic and
subsistence crop in many small Pacific island states.
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Coconut is believed to have its origins in the Indo-Malayan region,

from where it spread throughout the tropics. Its natural habitat was
the narrow sandy coast, but it is now found on soils ranging from
pure sand to clays and from moderately acidic to alkaline
 COCONUT
Pedicel attachment point
Exocarp
Eye of coconut

Mesocarp (fibrous)
Embryo

Endosperm (coconut meat)

Endocarp (shell)

Coconut water (milk)

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GROWTH
• The most rapid growth occurs between the second and fifth
year in the life of a coconut palm.
• A stem appears under the crown after 3–4 years of growth,
and stem elongation initially is 30–50 cm (12–20 in)
annually but slows down in older palms (above 40 yr).
• Fruit production increases after the sixth year at the
expense of vegetative growth.
• Thereafter, growth is fairly constant as yields are sustained
for the next 40 years, and palm age can be roughly gauged
from the length of the stem.
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FORM
• The fronds in a mature healthy palm describe a
sphere
• Evenly distributed in all directions from the
growing tip
• Due to weight of nuts X-shaped canopy in which no
fronds are held in a near-horizontal position.
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LEAVES
• Until about an age of 1 year, leaves remain entire.
• Leaves (called “fronds”) are progressively more pinnate.
• Coconut leaves are peripinnate (even-pinnate) with 200–
250 linear-lanceolate leaflets arranged in a single plane on
either side of the rachis.
• Fronds are 4.5–5.5 m (15–18 ft) in length
• Leaflets are 1.5–5 cm (0.6–2 in) wide and 50–150cm (20–
60 in) long.
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LEAVES
• The expanded base of the petiole provides firm attachment
for the frond to the stem.
• The petiole and rachis may be green or bronze, which is
indicative of the fruit color.
• Talls in their prime produce about 12–18 leaves per year,
and Dwarfs produce 20–22 leaves per year.
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FLOWERING
• Monoecious
• Inflorescence (2-4’ long)
– Up to 8,000 small flowers
– 1-30 flowers near base
– Nectar attract bees and other insects
– One inflorescence produced from leaf axil per month
• Flowers in 5-8 years (dwarf in 3-4 years)
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FRUIT
• Develops 12 crops at same time
– Maturation takes 1 year
– One tree can mature 100 nuts/year
– Drops 65 - 70% of immature fruit
• Growth stages
– 1) Rapid growth of husk
– 2) Enlargement of cavity & filling with liquid endosperm
– 3) Solid endosperm
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PROPOGATION
• Exclusively by seed
• Select best trees to use as seed source
– Uniform growth, straight trunk
– Closely spaced leaf scars
– Dense crown
– Short, capable of holding heavy fruit crop
– 10 year production record
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COIR
Coir is a natural fibre extracted from the husk of coconut
and used in products such as floor mats, doormats, brushes,
mattresses etc. Technically coir is the fibrous material found
between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a
coconut. Other uses of brown coir (made from ripe coconut)
are in upholstery padding, sacking and horticulture. White
coir is harvested from unripe coconuts, and is used for
making finer brushes, string, rope and fishing nets.
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COIR
Structure
Coir fibres are found between the hard, internal shell and
the outer coat of a coconut. The individual fibre cells are
narrow and hollow, with thick walls made of cellulose.
They are pale when immature but later become hardened
and yellowed as a layer of lignin is deposited on their walls.
Each cell is about 1 millimetre (0.04 in) long and 10 to 20
micrometres (0.0004 to 0.0008 in) in diameter. Fibres are
typically 10 to 30 centimetres (4 to 12 in) long.
There are two varieties of coir. Brown coir is harvested
from fully ripened coconuts. It is thick, strong and has high
abrasion resistance. It is typically used in mats, brushes and
sacking.
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COIR
Mature brown coir fibres contain more lignin and less
cellulose than fibres such as flax and cotton and so are
stronger but less flexible. White coir fibres are harvested
from the coconuts before they are ripe. These fibres are
white or light brown in color and are smoother and finer,
but also weaker. They are generally spun to make yarn that
is used in mats or rope.
The coir fibre is relatively water-proof and is one of the
few natural fibres resistant to damage by salt water. Fresh
water is used to process brown coir, while sea water and
fresh water are both used in the production of white coir.
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THATCH ROOFING
Thatching is the craft of building a roof with dry vegetation such
as straw, water reed, grasses, palm leaves, so as to shed water away
from the inner roof.
• It is a very old roofing method and has been used in both tropical
and temperate climates.
• Thatch is still employed by builders in developing countries, usually
with low-cost, local vegetation.
• By contrast in some developed countries it is now the choice of
affluent people who desire a rustic look for their home, would like a
more ecologically friendly roof, or who have purchased an
originally thatched abode.
• Because thatch is lighter less timber is required in the roof that
supports it.
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ROOFING MATERIAL
STRAW
Good quality straw thatch can last for more than 45–50 years when
applied by a skilled thatcher.
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PALM LEAVES
In areas where palms are abundant, palm leaves are used to thatch
walls and roofs. Many species of palm trees are called "thatch
palm", or have "thatch" as part of their common names.
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AFRICAN REED THATCH ROOFING

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Thatch roofing is one of the oldest forms of architecture that

has been perfected through generations of practice through
variouscultures.
Local artisans utilize palm fronds that are cut from the trees,
cure them and cut them into strips that can be woven into
various products.
Today thatch can be used to create a tropical look for any
home or garden.
Thatch is incredibly versatile in that it can be used for indoor
or outdoor decor, for roofing, edging along tiki bars, accenting
ceiling moldings and much more.