1789 Guadua is a Neotropical genus of thorny, clumping bamboo in the grass family, ranging from moderate to very large species.

Due to its quality, the genus has been widely used for house construction along the inter-Andean rivers of Colombia and in coastal Ecuador.

Highly appreciated by Simon Bolivar for its watershed protection and praised by Alexander von Humboldt for its wide variety of uses[citation needed], it is being used in construction today in South America.

For large-scale use of Guadua angustifolia, the management of sustainable bamboo forests and groves, as well as the establishment of new nurseries and plantations, is a priority.

Bamboo propagated in a laboratory in the space of one square meter will be sufficient to establish one hectare of new forest.

Harvesting can begin six years after planting, making bamboo a potential source of tropical biomass production for industry (e.g., biofuels).

These features have attracted the attention of civil engineers, architects, academics, designers, and artists.