The sheer usefulness of the bamboos is well-known. They provide material for acupuncture needles to whisks for teamaking and thousands of other uses. However, their primary interest for the botanist lies in the diversity of these remarkable plants, as this has a profound significance for our understanding of the grass family in general. The deceptive simplicity of grasses actually represents a kind of botanical "shorthand." Behind this degree of economy in modern grasses, there is the complexity represented by the bamboos. The bamboos represent both the Old and New Worlds. Most are woody yet some are herbaceous. They are both primitive yet widely specialized. This book provides a wide coverage of many of the most intriguing aspects of bamboo biology. An introductory chapter outlines the various current concerns in bamboo research, examining the place of bamboo in stable forest situations. Coverage of evolutionary topics is included, as is an appraisal of bamboo structure by detailing their flowering behavior and the relationship between bamboo and the Giant Panda. Also included is a look at genetics and the evolution of the bamboos. Using bamboo as a starting point, a radical change in grass terminology is suggested, with a series of papers examining bamboo anatomy in detail. The Bamboos contains a stimulating and up-to-date look at the state of current knowlege. In addition, by linking the study of grasses and bamboos and their importance, this new volume requires us to look again both at bamboo and the more familiargrass species we have taken for granted for so long.
Key Features
* Examines bamboo structure by looking at flowering behavior and its relationship with the Giant Panda
* Contains a comprehensive background in basic bamboo biology
* Links the studies of grasses and bamboo
* Includes a detailed look at bamboo anatomy
Key Features
* Examines bamboo structure by looking at flowering behavior and its relationship with the Giant Panda
* Contains a comprehensive background in basic bamboo biology
* Links the studies of grasses and bamboo
* Includes a detailed look at bamboo anatomy
