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1. Bamboo


Bamboo is found in most of the monsoon regions where the average annual rainfall is more than 150 cm. Some of the bambooes may attain a height of 30 m. It is used for a variety of purposes— basket making, roofing, and thatching, construction, paper, and pulp making. In India more than 100 varieties of bamboos are found. According to the Planning Commission bamboo occupies 100,210 sq km of the forest area of the country with an annual production of four million tonnes. Different types of decorative items such as flower pots, trays, vases, caskets, and even ornaments are made of bamboo in states Eke Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, and Tripura. Bamboo also finds a place in cultural activities of the Mizo people, i.e. Cherraw (bamboo) dance.