Different Parts of The Bamboo Stem

The bamboo stem (or culm) is the most utilized part of the bamboo plant, it consists of three parts: stem, stem base and stem petiole.

1) Stem

The bamboo stem is the part of bamboo above the ground, it is straight and cylinder-formed (to some extent oval) with nodes. The parts between the nodes are called internodes.

Every node has two closely positioned rings, the lower one is called sheath ring, which is a scar formed after the sheath leaf falls off. The upper one is called stem ring, which is a scar formed after the growth-cease of internode tissue. The part between the rings is the node itself.

Bamboo stems have wooden partitions (diaphragms) between two internodes, which strengthens the stem. The length of internodes, the number and form of nodes depend on the bamboo species.

Bamboo internodes are usually hollow inside, which form bamboo cavities. Depending on the bamboo species, wall thickness of the stem can vary greatly. Bamboo can be thin walled or even solid. A good example of a solid bamboo species is Guadua Amplexifolia.

2) Stem Base

The lower part of a bamboo stem is called stem base, it extends into the soil and connects to the rhizome and root system. A stem base consists of numerous short sections with significant diameter, adventitious roots grow densely on these sections. On the stem bases of some bamboo species there are up to ten alternate buds, which grow into shoots and then into bamboo stems; on those of some other species the buds are fewer, and can grow into rhizomes.

3) Stem Petiole

The stem petiole is the lowest part of the bamboo stem, and consists of tens of short sections. The diameter of these sections decrease with the depth of the petiole. A stem petiole is generally solid, with degenerated leaves, without buds.

Sources: Industrial Utilization on Bamboo, Zhang Qisheng, Jiang Shenxue, and Tang Yongyu, INBAR