Common bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) is one of those plants I’ve benefited from for years without giving it much thought. On our farm, a mature clump takes up a surprising amount of space, is hard to work around, and is nearly impossible to move. But along Puerto Rico’s mountain roads, that same dense growth helps hold soil in place on steep banks. In the 1930s, when the Civilian Conservation Corps built a road near Sabana in the Luquillo Mountains, clumps of common bamboo were planted along the roadside to control erosion. The trend continued and this gigantic bamboo is found above and below almost every steep mountain road.

The hollow stems, or culms, have uses of their own. In Puerto Rico, they’ve been cut for fence posts, temporary construction supports, and crafts. They can also be used for fuel or processed into pulp for paper. A living clump can serve as a fence, give cattle shade, or help hold soil along streambanks and reservoir edges. It is a powerful plant that is not always recognized for it’s power. Truly a giant in the plant world which merits our awe and respect.