Bamboo Flowers
Usually bamboos flower only once in their lifetime and die after bearing
fruit. Some species can also flower annually without dying. However flowering
is a great strain on the plant and most species flower only once every
50-120 years. When they do, it is usually followed either by slow growth
for several years or massive dieback. A few species flower en masse no
matter their location and climate, synchronizing their dieback/suicide
across oceans and continents. The individual flowers are formed from ears
and panicles and measure only a few millimeters. The bamboos normally flower
in the last months of a year and seeds mature at the beginning of the next
year.


All bamboo fruits are edible. The majority of bamboo species produce ripe
fruits only rarely. Most fruits falls to the ground before ripening. The
ability of the seeds to germinate is very low. To cultivate artificially
the bamboo is surer and much quicker consequently.
Oak tree very hard and stable
bamboo flexible not stable
Yet a strong wind blows an oak tree down
while a bamboo tree bend- retracts
Then springs back stronger
- Chinese Proverb


Download a PDF file with detailed instructions for how to make bamboo flutes.
For those of you who can't grow your own bamboo, or don't have access to
any poles to make flutes, you can find some source at:
American Bamboo