There is a plant that is used for almost every thing. It is used in construction, used for making yarn and fabric, jewelry, tools and other implements, pulp for paper, medicine, used as food and even use to make musical instruments. Not only this, it is the fastest growing woody plant on Earth. Yes, it is true. There is rather a kind of grass called Bamboo.

It has been clocked surging skyward as fast as 121 cm (47.6 inches) in a 24-hour period and can also reach maximal growth rate exceeding one meter (39 inches) per hour for short periods of time. Many prehistoric bamboos exceeded heights of 250 feet.

Bamboos play an important role in local economies throughout the world and are of major national and international commercial importance in the Asia-Pacific region. It is estimated that 2.5 billion people depend on or use bamboo materials valued at US$ 7 billion per annum.

There are more than 70 genera divided into about 1,000 species. They are found in diverse climates, from cold mountains to hot tropical regions. They occur across East Asia, from 50°N latitude in Sakhalin through to Northern Australia, and west to India and the Himalayas. They also occur in sub-Saharan Africa, and in the Americas from the Southeastern United States south to Argentina and Chile, reaching their southernmost point anywhere, at 47°S latitude.

This fast growing plant can help us in a lot of ways. Because of its high rate of growth it can form one of the biggest contributors of reducing greenhouse gases. It can grow at almost every kind of place makes it flexible enough for mass plantation. The pulp it gives is used for so many different purposes. It can be used as bio-fuel to produce electricity, for paper production. Especially in developing countries where it grows it can provide a source of income and employment. It has already shown its commercial importance so I think the governments should take a more proactive role in developing bamboo in places where other crops cannot be grown. So you see the two most important E’s environment and economy can get some help from bamboo.

With all these valuable traits the bamboo is rally a miracle plant.

有一种植物几乎能用来作任何事情。它可用在建筑、纱和织物、装饰品、工具和其他器具、纸、药物和食品,甚至用来作乐器。不仅如此,它还是地球上生长最快的木质植物。是的,这都是千真万确，它是一种草本植物，我们称它叫“竹子”。

它总是不停地向上猛长,速度快到在二十四小时内就能长到121厘米长,而且在某一短暂的期间里,最快生长极限每小时可达一米之长。许多史前的竹子,它的高度超过250尺，也就是说超过75米。

竹子在世界各国对本土的经济扮演着重要的角色,以及在亚太地区也起着国内与国际商业的重要作用。估计每年有二十五亿的人在从事或使用竹子方面的材料，其价值达到七十亿美元。

竹子有七十多的属类,大约细分成1000种类。它们适于生长在不同的气候里,从寒冷的山脉到炎热地区都有它们的身影。它们出没在从北纬50度到南纬47度的范围，纵惯东亚到北纬50度的库页岛到奥大利亚北部,向西到达印度和喜马拉雅山脉;它们也出现在非洲的南沙哈拉地带及以南地区;以及在美洲,从美国东南地区向南到阿根廷和智利,到达最南部的一处——南纬47度的地方。

这种快速生长的植物在许多方面对我们都很有好处。由于它们的高生长率,可以对降低温室气体方面作出巨大贡献。由于它们几乎可以生长在任何地方,因此有利于大批量的种植。竹浆可以用作许多不同的用途,用它作生物燃料发电,用它制作纸品。尤其是,在产竹的发展中国家,它可成为一种创收和就职的来源。由此它已经显示出了它们商业上的重要性,所以,我认为政府应该更积极主动地在其他作物无法种植的地方种植竹子。这样你就看到了两方面最重要的现象——环境和经济都可以从竹子中受益。

竹子有了以上这些宝贵的特征,它名副其实是一种神奇的植物。