The Beauty of Black Bamboo

Black bamboo 'phyllostachys nigra' is a perennial shrub being the largest member of the grass family.
It is the fastest growing plant on earth surging up skywards as it grows.

There are two forms of bamboos which relate to the general pattern of growth.
These are referred to as 'clumping' and 'running' bamboos.

The Black bamboo is a 'clumping' bamboo that tends to spread slowly as it grows, where as the 'running' bamboo sends out rhizomes and spreads at a rapid rate so needs to be looked after and kept under control.

Bamboo has been used by many cultures especially throughout Asian in various ways and is an integrable part many different religions.

In Chinese culture bamboo is a symbol of longevity as it has a long life where as in India it is a symbol of friendship.
Bamboo was and wide spread though out early China were it was used as a medium for written documents.
In Chinese culture, bamboo, plum blossom, orchid and chrysanthemum are know as the 'Four Noble Ones' representing the four seasons.

Bamboo forests often surround Shinto shrines in Japan as they believe it acts as a barrier against evil spirits.
Many Buddhist Temples have Bamboo groves.

In Northern India in the state of Assam, bamboo is fermented into a paste known as 'Khorish' a folk remedy for the treatment of impotence, infertility and menstrual pain.

Vietnamese culture is regarded as bamboo culture, an old saying going 'when bamboo is old, the new bamboo sprouts appear' symbolising the regeneration of a culture.
Traditional Vietnamese villages are surrounded by thick bamboo hedges.

Bamboo has been used throughout history in many ways and has many uses.

The fresh shoots of the bamboo have been use within Asia for many years.
Bamboo shoots are the new clumps of new shoots that form and are usually used in cooking finely chopped, boiled and added with coconut to various vegetable dishes.
The pith of the young shoots are also used in cooking.

The Empty hollows of the bamboo stalks are used often throughout Asia.
Soups are boiled and the rice is cooked in the hollows directly over the flame.

In China bamboo was used to hold up simple suspension bridges.
The cable being used was made from split bamboo or by twisting whole clumps of pliable bamboo together.

In the Philippines, 'the Ni pa Hut', is an example of basic housing where bamboo is used.
The walls are made of split and woven bamboo and the slats and poles of bamboo are used as the support.

Bamboo stalks are decorated and used as poles.These are used to surround the stairs of shrines and temples to warn of evil.

Bamboo Deer Chasers are popular in gardens.
This ancient device was used centuries ago to chase away deer from the vegetable garden.
The deer chaser makes a soft clunk every time the water cycles though and hits the stone below and in so doing frightens the deer that are nearby.

Today people are starting to use this simple material bamboo again.
Some people are building modern houses with this simple low cost material bamboo and achieving a natural simplicity with a modem form.

Bamboo used as a natural fibre is very popular today, an alternative to synthetics and is used in underwear and night wear.
As a material it both breaths well and is very comfortable to wear. A great new natural organic fibre.

Sources
Wikipedia
Photo
Photobucket