Bamboo is actually an entire group of plants. The plant is a perennial evergreen that flowers. It is in the grass family. The largest member of that family, giant bamboo, is actually the largest kind of grass. The grass is one of the world’s fastest growing plants. Some kinds of bamboo can grow almost three feet (one meter) in a twenty-four-hour period.
Bamboo Vs. Wood
Because bamboo does not have the woody xylem and secondary growth wood, it is not considered to be a wood. When compared with wood, bamboo has a higher compressive strength and tensile strength. Compressive strength is the ability of a material to resist loads that attempt to reduce its size. What this means is that the material resists being crushed. Tensile strength is the ability of a material to resist loads that attempt to increase its size. What this means is that the material resists being stretched or torn.
Because of its higher tensile strength and compressive strength, bamboo is a more versatile material than wood. Bamboo clothing is as soft as cotton while bamboo buildings are as sturdy as wooden ones. Wooden clothing, however, does not exist in any appreciable manner.
In addition to versatility, bamboo is superior to wood in terms of sustainability. Many different kinds of pine trees are grown for vegetation cover and land recovery because certain species are very fast growing. That is, they are fast growing trees. The quickly growing trees tend to grow around two feet per year. For comparison, bamboo can grow as much as three feet in one day. That means bamboo grows almost five hundred times faster than pine trees. That means bamboo can be replaced much quicker than wood.
Also, bamboo is an evergreen which means it keeps its leaves all year round. Not all trees do this. Therefore, bamboo serves as a better windscreen than certain kinds of trees.
Bamboo vs. Cotton
Bamboo clothing has been growing in popularity because bamboo is very soft and versatile. While bamboo might not have as many advantages over cotton as it does over wood, the main idea is that bamboo is comparable to cotton. If cotton clothing is the gold standard for comfortable everyday wear, then bamboo clothing definitely fits all of the requirements. In addition, bamboo as a material is very sustainable. It grows quicker than cotton and is more easily replaced. Also, harvesting cotton is an arduous task because the plant is so low to the ground and is filled with thorns. Massive cotton threshers are required to harvest the crop and separate it into usable threads. Also, cotton only grows in very limited environments.
Bamboo, however, is a very tall crop that can be completely cut down and replaced very quickly. It grows in many different environments and is very resilient. Visit here for more information on Bamboo MO Clothing.
