Abstract

Bamboos comprise a large number of genera and species in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. They have assumed considerable importance all over the world having its utilization potential in the life of rural and urban population and is also put to various uses both in traditional as well as modern sectors. This group is taxonomically one of the most difficult group of grasses and has been very inadequately understood. It has been reported that there are 110 genera and 1087 species throughout the world, among which 167 species under 25 genera are classified as herbaceous bamboos while 920 species under 85 genera as woody bamboos. However, most of the genera are treated as congeneric by various taxonomists, thereby reducing the actual number of genera or species in the whole group. Secondly the number of species of a genus do not generally lead to the accepted generic concepts because most of the new species are merely known so far by their vegetative