In bamboo, as with other grasses, the inner regions ofthe plant stem are hollow and the cross sections are scattered throughout thestem instead of in a cylindrical arrangement. The woody xylem is also absent,which causes the stems to be columnar rather than tapering.
 
Bamboos are also the fastest growing woody plants in theworld.  They are capable of growing up to24 inches or more per day.
 
Bamboos are of notable economic and cultural significancein Southeast Asia where the stems are used extensively in everyday life asbuilding materials and as a highly versatile raw product, and the shoots as afood source.