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Bamboo stands out not just as any grass but as the tallest of the grass world. Consider the dragon bamboo, or Dendrocalamus giganteus, which reaches heights of up to 40 meters (130 feet) in Southeast Asia.
Bamboo isn’t just the towering champion among grasses; it’s also a speedster in the plant kingdom, shooting up at breakneck speeds. Remarkably, certain bamboo types can sprint upwards by as much as 91 cm (36 inches) in just a day—growth you can almost watch in real time.
This wide-reaching adaptability largely stems from its sophisticated root system, enabling it to tap into water and nutrients in even the most challenging conditions.
Unlike the majority of plants, bamboo sports a hollow center in its stems, or culms, segmented by sturdy joints known as nodes. This design not only brands bamboo with its signature look but also bolsters its structural backbone.