September 18th is World Bamboo Day. I have a few notes on bamboo from the book “The Plants” in Life Nature Library series, published 1975. The Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants-a foot a day. It takes only a few months for bamboo to grow up to 100 feet. They have a huge root system to give them the sugars for such fast growth.
The book also mentions that for the giant bamboo, once every 33 to 66 years, it commits suicide. The bamboo bursts into flowering mode, using flowering shoots instead of the regular green leafy shoots. These flowers use up all of the plant’s food, and it dies. They are not sure of why this happens.
In the book “The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants” by Andrew Chevallier, published in 1996, there is an entry on bamboo. The Spiny Bamboo mainly grows in India and China. It is considered one of the most useful plants in the world. As well as the ‘woodlike’ ability to be made into furniture, scaffolding, and paper, there is some medicinal uses.
The root of the spiny bamboo can be used for joint pain. Leaves can be used for menstrual pain, along with helping stonach issues, even as an aphrodisiac. The sprouts help nausea, indigestion and gas. A poultice of sprouts can help drain infections. The juice can help with strengthening of cartilage, and osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.
The black bamboo juice can be used for coughs and congested chests. The roots are used as a diuretic and to treat fevers.
On a musical note, I have the CD “Ultra-Lounge.” This album is a collection from various other “Ultra-Lounge” CD’s-the coolest music on earth. There are great tunes in the CD that sports a bamboo cover. The music is great for a tiki-torch 60’s vibe. Definitely worth grooving to.
September 18th in 1870, Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone was named. I have the book “Yellowstone Geysers” by Clyde Max Bauer, published in 1947-second edition. While an old book, this one is still rather easy to find, and would be a great edition to own.
There are pictures and discriptions of many of the geysers of Yellowstone park, in this book. The author states that of the over 200 geysers in the park, 110 are named. There is a map showing where specific geysers are. The processes of geyser work with steam is thoroughly explained, along with minerals in the waters.
September 18th is Read an E-book Day. Of course, I have modern technology. And today, we can read mine together. One, two, three, go.
I am going to keep holding a book in my hand, and turn some real pages. Perhaps for traveling, I’ll keep this around… just have to find the charger.
I do realize there is a place for e-books. For me and the library, the main place is in the back of my desk drawer. However, I would like to utilize it more, especially for old books that I cannot yet find to purchase but want to read. There are also good possibilities for research. Some older books are too expensive to own, but can be found digitally. So much to still do in the library, but as the White Rabbit says, “The hurrier I go, the behinder I get.”
Thanks for reading these bookish notes…on a phone. Tech is here to stay.
Librarytomes 