Musa textilis
Sign in to saveAbacá ( ; ), also known as Manila hemp, is a species of banana, Musa textilis, endemic to the Philippines. The plant grows to , and averages about . The plant has great economic importance, being harvested for its fiber extracted from the leaf-stems.
AI overview
Musa textilis, commonly known as abacá or Manila hemp, is a banana species native to the Philippines that is harvested for the strong fiber extracted from its leaf-stems. This plant has significant economic value because of its fiber, which has been historically important for various commercial uses.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Near ThreatenedSPECIES
- KingdomPlantae
- PhylumTracheophyta
- ClassLiliopsida
- OrderZingiberales
- FamilyMusaceae
Native toPhilippines
Common Name: kian pisang
via GBIF · IUCN · Kew POWO
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Subclass of
- useful plant
- Parent taxon
Article
21 sectionsContents
- Description
- Systematics
- Genetic diversity
- History
- 16th century
- 19th century
- 20th century
- 21st century
- Cultivation
- Pathogens
- Uses
- Textiles
- Industrial textile production
- Processing
- Dyeing and weaving
- Manila rope
- See also
- Notes
- Footnotes
- References
- External links
Abacá ( ; ), also known as Manila hemp, is a species of banana, Musa textilis, endemic to the Philippines. The plant grows to , and averages about . The plant has great economic importance, being harvested for its fiber extracted from the leaf-stems.
The lustrous fiber is traditionally hand-loomed into various indigenous textiles (abaca cloth or medriñaque) in the Philippines. They are still featured prominently as the traditional material of the barong tagalog, the national male attire of the Philippines, as well as in sheer lace-like fabrics called nipis used in various clothing components. Native abaca textiles also survive into the modern era among various ethnic groups, like the ''t'nalak'' of the T'boli people and the dagmay of the Bagobo people. Abaca is also used in traditional Philippine millinery, as well as for bags, shawls, and other decorative items. The hatmaking straw made from Manila hemp is called tagal or tagal straw.