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Abacá, ah buh KAH, (Musa textilis) is a species of banana native to the Philippines, grown widely as well in Borneo and Sumatra. The plant is of major economical importance, being harvested for its fibre, called Manila hemp, extracted from the large, oblong leaves and stems. On average, the plant grows about 20 feet (6 metres) tall. The fibre is used for making twines and ropes. The plant's name is sometimes spelt Abaká.
Composition The leaves grow from the trunk of the plant, and the bases of the leaves form a ''sheath'' (covering) around the trunk. These sheaths contain the valuable fibre. The coarse fibres range from 5 to 11½ feet (1.5 to 3.5 metres) in length. They are composed primarily of the plant materials cellulose, lignin, and pectin. After the fibre has been separated, it is sold under the name Manila. The fibre gets its name from the capital of the Philippines. Harvesting Growers harvest abacá fields every three to eight months. Harvest generally includes obtaining the leaf sheath, tuxying (separation of primary and secondary sheath), stripping (getting the fibers), and drying (usually following tradition of sun-drying). The fibers can then be spun into twines or cordage. Abaca rope is very durable and widely used. It can also be used to make handicraft products like bags, carpets, and furniture. The fibers can also be pulped and then processed into specialty paper such as tea bags, vacuum bags, currency paper, special paper, and more. Scientific classification The abacá plant belongs to the banana family, Musaceae. Its scientific name is Musa textilis. Other common names for Manila hemp include Cebu hemp and Davao hemp. External sources of information -The World Book encyclopedia set, 1988. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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