Water bamboo shoots Water bamboo shoot, also known as Zizania latifolia, is a small bamboo shoot, a perennial evergreen plant of Bambusoideae, native to China. The edible part of water bamboo shoots is newborn, tender and fat buds or whips. The bamboo shoots are rich in protein, which belongs to cold food and has the effects of clearing away heat and toxic materials, removing annoyance and quenching thirst. Water bamboo shoots also contain more nutrients, which is helpful to improve the body's immunity and is beneficial to its own health.