When there is a block of any type above a bamboo. (Minecraft: Bamboo) Not to be confused with a Bamboo Sapling (Minecraft: Bamboo_Sapling) and you use bonemeal on it the bonemeal is used and wasted. 

How to recreate. 

Place bamboo on top of any type of dirt and bonemeal it once. Break the higher piece of bamboo, and replace it with any block. Then bonemeal the bamboo and the bonemeal will be used