Bamboo Shoots

　Bamboo shoots grow at an astonishing rate. At their peak, they are said to grow by more than 1 metre a day.

　Whilst other plants have only one growth point, bamboo shoots have growth points at every node, numbering around 60 in total. As these nodes undergo cell division simultaneously, the shoot grows rapidly. Each node is covered by a single layer of skin; if this skin is removed, growth is said to cease.

　From March to May, the process of bamboo shoots growing can be observed in various locations. The photograph shows Moso bamboo in Arashiyama. Although native to China, it is popular as a food because it is softer and has less of a bitter taste compared to the Japanese native species Madake and Hachiku.