Comparative Histochemical and Anatomical Studies of three Bambusa taxa

India's rich diversity of bamboo species plays a key role in the global bamboo industry. Bamboo is ecologically and economically important to the nation's development and has been used in construction and as a raw material for various industries. The present study investigates the anatomical, histochemical, and fiber properties beneficial for pulp and paper industries of three taxa, viz., Bambusa vulgaris Schrad. var. striata (Lodd. ex Lindl.) Gamble, B. wamin E.G. Camus, and B. vulgaris Schrad. ex J.C. Wendl. The three taxa exhibited anatomical (viz., vascular bundle) and histochemical (viz., starch deposition) differences. The presence of thick-walled spindle-like parenchymatous fibers in B. wamin was responsible for the belly-like swellings of the culms. B. vulgaris had the longest mean fiber length (3364.68 ± 275.86 μm) and the thinnest wall (6.63 ± 1.8 μm), while B. vulgaris var. striata had the highest fiber width (23.07 ± 0.91 μm). B. vulgaris exhibited greater fiber length variation and more favorable fiber indices, including Runkel ratio, flexibility coefficient, and slenderness ratio, compared to B. vulgaris var. striata and B. wamin. B. vulgaris var. striata showed high fiber resistance to beating, poor digestibility, and low strength-related indices, while B. wamin displayed intermediate fiber qualities with higher sheet density potential. Overall, B. vulgaris proved most suitable for pulp and paper production owing to superior fiber characteristics that enhance pulp yield and paper strength properties.