The word bamboo refers to 20 genera of plants in the Poaceae family, among which the most important are Arundinaria, Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Fargesia, Phyllostachys, Pleioblastus, Pseudosasa, and Sasa. These 20 genera include about 200 species that produce lignified culms, called canes, varying greatly in size from species to species. In their countries of origin, they were used both as food (the shoots) and as material for furniture, housing, and tools. In the West, they have spread in recent years as ornamental plants and are much loved for their bright colors and the exotic touch they provide. Their cultivation is simple both in pots and in the ground, and the visual effect they create is very striking.