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Bambusa bambos has the distinction of being the first bamboo classified and named by
Carl Linneas in 1753. It is also one of the most useful bamboos known to man. It is
native to the region south of the Himalayan mountains, covering an area from India to
China. Modern cultivation has spread the growth of this species all over the world
where it is grown for such varied uses as a medicine for various ailments, wax from
young culms, fence to control livestock and material for paper and timber. Its most
distinguishing feature, spiny modified branches, makes it an easily identified species.

The species is a sympodial, densely tufted tropical bamboo. The culms can reach 30
meters in height and 18cm in diameter. Sometimes it can be confused with the smaller
relative Bambusa blumeana which also produces spines. Culm leaves can be used to
distinguish the two.