The phallic prowess of the shooting bamboo culm is well-known. 'Express' growth of 4 feet per day has been observed in some bamboo species.

But above and beyond the dizzy heights, the bamboo stands out tall in our imageries as a torch-bearer for human virtues - constancy, fidelity, integrity, purity and rectitude. Anderson Secondary School (Singapore), like many other educational institutions around the world, has adopted the bamboo into their pledge of nurturing the young minds and hearts under their charge.

The bamboo shoot (picture right) belongs to Bambusa vulgaris, a fast growing species widely cultivated around the world. Its type-form possesses green culms while those of yellow (or yellow streaked with green vertical lines) belongs to the cultivated variety 'Vittata'.