THE MONOCOTYLEDOXES 



2071 



Styles mostly two or three. Fruit a nut (Dendrocalamus), berry 

 {Melocanna) or caryopsis. 



Fig. 2007. — Bambiisa. A, Spikelet. B, F'lower. Bromiis. C, Flower. 



D, Spikelet. 



This tribe contains about forty-five genera, many of which are of 

 economic importance. The more important are Ariindinaria, Bambiisa 

 and Dendrocalamiis. 



The Bamboos usually grow in clumps which continually expand 

 centrifugally by the rhizomes. The rhizomes give off erect, perennial, 

 woody stems which appear at the beginning of the rainy season and grow 

 extremely rapidly. When they have reached their full height the scale leaves 

 fall and the leafy branches spread out. The shoots of Dendrocalamus 

 giganteiis (Fig. 2008) are said to grow as much as a yard a day. In some 

 species the plants may reach a height of over 100 ft. The economic uses to 

 which the bamboo is put in the tropics are extremely varied, especially in 

 Asia. The stems (Fig. 2009) are hollow except at the nodes and the wood 

 is both elastic and very light and moreover splits very easily. They are used 

 as the main supports of buildings or split to serve as tiles. Bridges are 

 often made of them while they also serve as pipes to conduct water, as 

 water vessels, flower pots, gutters, masts, household utensils and agri- 

 cultural implements. Fine branches can be split and woven into mats 

 which attached to bamboo poles serve as walls to houses or sails for boats. 

 Split bamboo can be sharpened and used as cutting implements, or pointed 

 as lances or needles. When finely split it can be woven into coarse clothing, 

 mats, blinds, baskets, hats and rope, or made into brushes. The young 

 stems are eaten like asparagus, and the seeds are sometimes used as food. 



Bamboos are generally monocarpic. Flowering seasons for certain 

 species recur at irregular intervals, after which all the plants of that species 

 in the area die. 



2K* 



