Musa textilis

Musa textilis subsp. var.	Abaca
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Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Musa textilis, Nee (M. mindanensis, Rumph. M. silvestris, Colla. M. troglodytarum textoria, Blanco. M. Abaca, Perr.). Abaca. Manila Hemp. Whole plant 13-22 ft. high, stoloniferous: lvs. oblong, deltoid at base, bright green above, glaucous beneath, often with large brown spots; petiole 1 ft. or more long: spike drooping, shorter than lvs.; male fls. deciduous; calyx 5-lobed, about 1 ½ in. long, the outer lobes with a curved, threadlike horn near the apex: fr. obscurely 3-angled, curved, 2-3 in. long, 1 in. diam., not edible, filled with seed; seeds black, turbinate, 1/6 in. diam., angled by pressure. Philippine Isls.— Furnishes one of the most valuable fibers known for the manufacture of rope. Cf. p. 171, Vol. I; also Cyclo. Amer. Agric., Vol. II, p. 286. Much grown in the Philippines. Var. amboinensis, Miq. (M. amboinensis, Rumph.). Not so tall and spike not so drooping: fr. about 3 in. long, black at maturity. Amboina.—Cult.in the Philippine Isls. and used in the manufacture of Manila hemp. The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

ABACA, or Manila hemp, is the fiber of Musa texlilis, a native of the Philippine Islands, where it is grown for commerce. The plant is like the banana in general habit of growth, although it is seed-bearing. It is propagated by seeds or suckers or root-cuttings. When two to five years old it is at maturity, reaching a height of 6 to 15 feet and a diameter of trunk of 6 to 15 inches. The fiber is derived from the thick sheathing leaf-stems, the stems being cut between the flowering and fruiting stages. After seed-bearing, the top or "plant" dies and new suckers or shoots spring from the roots. The first stalks may be cut as early as twenty months after planting, and the plantation is cut over about once in eight months until it becomes unproductive, which will be fifteen to forty years. New stalks continue to arise as the old ones are cut. The fiber, as found in the market, is coarse and stiff and 6 to 12 feet long. In the better grades it is very strong. The fruit of Musa textilis is not edible.

More information about this species can be found on the genus page.

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External links

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