Tabasheer

Tabaxir (also bamboo bamboo camphor or sugar, in the countries of origin Banslochan Sanskrit, Arabic Tabasheer, Persian Tabaschir or Tabashir ) is a concretion from the cavities between the nodes of the bamboo tube.

Tabaxir is probably formed in periodically slower growth and forms irregular, pea-sized white, yellowish and brownish, opaline translucent granules consisting essentially of amorphous silica with 5 to 13 % water.

Tabaxir was highly valued as a medicinal product in the Middle Ages, but is now used only in China and Arabia. After composition and physical nature Tabaxir has the greatest similarity with Opal, he is in the water transparent and opaque by drying and has the smallest refractive index of all known solid materials.