BAMBOOS: DIVERSITY AND ITS UTILIZATION IN MEGHALAYA, NORTHEAST INDIA.

Bamboo which belongs to the Poaceae (grass) family has been found chiefly in warm or tropical regions and it is an extremely important component in the lives of the indigenous people of Meghalaya. It is a fast growing, widespread, renewable, versatile and environment-enhancing resource. Apart from its traditional uses, bamboo has various new applications as an alternative to rapidly depleting wood resources and as an option to many expensive construction and furnishing materials. It stands as an ideal species capable of maintaining conservation of soil and moisture, restoration of degraded land, livelihood and economic security due to its manifold uses and industrial applications. A total of 30 species under 14 genera were recorded and out of which a total of 23 species have been used traditionally in the livelihood of mankind by the different ethnic societies of state. The most commonly used species of bamboos are Bambusa balcooa, Bambusa bambos, Bambusa cacharensis, Bambusa jaintiana, Dendrocalamus hookeri, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Melocanna baccifera, Schizostachyum mannii, Schizostachyum helferi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]