Rot Resistance: Bamboo used in exterior conditions is perishable, and will deteriorate in a matter of years. No data is available to distinguish between bamboo species, but bamboo can usually be distinguished from wood and palms by the hollow stem, pale color, and the lack of rays or visible pores. Texture is very uniform, and ranges from medium to fine depending on density. Bamboo that has been split and processed into lumber will have intermittent variations in the fiber at each node on the stem.Įndgrain: Resembles the endgrain of palm-another monocot. Grain/Texture: Being a monocot in the grass family, bamboo does not have any sapwood/heartwood or growth rings. Live bamboo that has been left standing too long frequently develops fungal decay, discoloring the wood with brown or black streaks and patches. Shrinkage:Diameter: 10-16%, Wall Thickness: 15-17%Ĭolor/Appearance: Generally a uniform and pale yellow to almost white. Tree Size: Some of the largest bamboos can be up to 50-100 ft (15-30 m) tall,Īverage Dried Weight: 31 lbs/ft 3 (500 kg/m 3) to 53 lbs/ft 3 (850 kg/m 3) (Many timber-producing bamboos are from the Phyllostachys and Bambusa genera)ĭistribution: Most timber-producing bamboos are from south Asia

Scientific Name: Hundreds of species among dozens of genera from the Poaceae (grass) family

Carbonized bamboo vs hard maple bow