The content of phenylalanine, tyrosine, methionine and glutamic acid in different parts of a bamboo shoot were determined together with their changes during growth. The content of these amino acids, tyrosine in particular, decreased with growth of the bamboo. Phenylpyruvate and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate when incubated with sliced bamboo tissues were converted to phenylalanine and tyrosine, respectively; at the same time p-coumaric acid was found to be synthesized from either. The ability of the slice tissues from different parts of the shoot to metabolize phenylpyruvate and p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate was compared and showed that the tissue from the lower part of the shoot was the most active in accordance with faster lignification in the lower part. © 1970.