Bamboo and Its Composites

Abstract

There are about 75 genera and 1250 species of bamboo. Bamboo thrives best in monsoon forests where they attain their maximum growth and dwindle into shrubs in temperate regions and at high altitudes. Some bamboo species look like grasses. India is the second largest country in the world, first being China, in bamboo resources both in species variety and distribution. India has the richest bamboo genetic resources in 136 species including eleven exotic species out of which 58 species belonging to 10 genera are found in the Northeast. In addition to natural occurrence, bamboo is being grown as plantation in USA, Japan, China, India and many other countries.