South America is the richest region of the Americas in terms of the diversity and number of woody bamboo species. They are distributed from the humid lowland forest at sea level to the highlands in the Andes up to 4,300m.
American Bamboo Species
Bamboo Species of Argentina
In Argentina, bamboo does not play a dominant role in forestry. As in the majority of South American countries, bamboo exploitation is generally confined to the local use of native species in areas close to the source of supply.
Bamboo Species of Belize
This small flat country is the only one in Central America without any Chusquea species. Belize, however, is well known for the Guadua longifolia populations along the Belize river and its tributaries on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Bamboo Species of Bolivia
In Bolivia, bamboo has been used by Andean communities in traditional production of musical instruments and baskets, and as cattle forage. An estimate of the area of bamboo forest in the highlands or lowland regions of this country does not yet exist.
Bamboo Species of Brazil
Brazil is the country with the greatest bamboo diversity and the highest percentage of endemic woody bamboos in Latin America -- 137 species (32% of Latin American bamboo species) and 17 genera (85% of Latin American bamboo genera). The states of Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, Bahia and Parana have the greatest diversity of woody bamboos.
Bamboo Species of the Caribbean and West Indies
The native bamboo species in the Caribbean and West Indies are confined to small-sized bamboos less than 1 cm in diameter. Because of this, they do not have any economic value. However, Asiatic species have entered conspicuously into the local economy on some islands.
Bamboo Species of Chile
In Chile, bamboo is rarely used as an economic plant, but has some influence on the dynamics and composition of the Chilean Andes forest.
Bamboo Species of Colombia
Colombia has the second highest woody bamboo diversity in Latin America. At present, 9 genera and 70 species are reported, with 24 species being endemic and at least 12 species remaining to be described.
Bamboo Species of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is the country with the largest woody bamboo diversity in Central America. At present, 8 genera and 39 species of woody bamboos are reported.
Bamboo Species of Ecuador
Ecuador, for its size, possesses an impressive diversity of woody bamboos. Up to the present, 6 genera and 42 species have been identified (11 endemics ones), with about 15 species remaining to be described.