The anatomical characteristics of the stem of belangke bamboo (Gigantochloa pruriens), which is native in North Sumatra, Indonesia, were examined to attain valuable information for identification and effective utilization. The number and type of vessel bundles and the fiber and metaxylem dimensions in the longitudinal (bottom, middle, and top) and radial (outer, central, and inner) directions of the bamboo culm were investigated by optical microscopy. The vascular bundles were distributed unevenly and arranged alternately, as shown by cross-sectional images of the culms. The proportion of vascular bundles in the culm decreased from the outer layer to the inner layer and tended to increase from the bottom to the top. Most vascular bundles were classified as type IV at the bottom and as type III in the middle and top parts. Fiber length and cell wall thickness tended to increase from the bottom to the top and from the inner layer to the outer layer. Metaxylem length and diameter increased from the outer layer to the inner layer and from the bottom towards the top of the stem. It was revealed that the anatomical characteristics of the belangke bamboo varied significantly in the vertical and radial directions.

Bamboo is one of the major biomass resources in the world. To obtain valuable information for effective use of bamboo resources in Korea, the anatomical characteristics of the commercial Korean bamboo species (Phyllostachys pubescens, Phyllostachys nigra, and Phyllostachys bambusoides) were analyzed. The structures in bamboo culm were observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Also the crystalline properties as relative crystallinity and crystallite width were measured by an X-ray diffraction method. The three Korean bamboo species had the vascular bundle type Ⅰ with tylosoid in intercellular space. In the outer part of culm, vascular bundles showed denser spacing than inner part. The fiber length in outer part samples of the three bamboo species showed longer than inner part samples. Furthermore, the fiber length showed a significant difference between inner part and outer part in three bamboo

Bamboo is one of the major biomass resources that have many advantages such as fast growing, easy cultivation, short rotation, and a relatively lower price. In this study, the anatomical characteristics of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) by age from one-year-old to five-year-old were examined by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Also, the crystalline properties such as relative crystallinity and crystallite width were investigated by an X-ray diffraction method. In one-year-old bamboo xylem, a few vascular bundles showed missing bundle sheath in near the intercellular space. Moreover, one-year-old bamboo had the shortest fiber length and the smallest values in vessel diameter, width of vascular bundle, and thickness of inner layer. One-year-old bamboo also showed the smallest values in the crystallinity 1 Date