| Abacá Musa textilis | |
|---|---|
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| At theUnited States Botanic Garden | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Zingiberales |
| Family: | Musaceae |
| Genus: | Musa |
| Section: | Musasect. Callimusa |
| Species: | M. textilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Musa textilis | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
Abacá (/ɑːbəˈkɑː/ah-bə-KAH;Filipino:abaka[ɐbɐˈka]), also known asManila hemp, is a species ofbanana,Musa textilis, endemic to thePhilippines. The plant grows to 13–22 feet (4.0–6.7 m), and averages about 12 feet (3.7 m). The plant has great economic importance, being harvested for itsfiber extracted from the leaf-stems.[4][5][6]
The lustrous fiber is traditionally hand-loomed into various indigenous textiles (abaca cloth ormedriñaque) in the Philippines. They are still featured prominently as the traditional material of thebarong tagalog, the national male attire of the Philippines, as well as in sheer lace-like fabrics callednipis used in various clothing components. Native abaca textiles also survive into the modern era among various ethnic groups, like thet'nalak of theT'boli people and thedagmay of theBagobo people. Abaca is also used in traditional Philippinemillinery, as well as for bags, shawls, and other decorative items. Thehatmaking straw made from Manila hemp is calledtagal ortagal straw.[7][8]
The fiber is also exceptionally strong, stronger thanhemp and naturally salt-resistant, making it ideal for making twines and ropes (especially for maritime shipping). It became a major trade commodity in the colonial era for this reason.[9] The abaca industry declined sharply in the mid-20th century when abaca plantations were decimated byWorld War II and plant diseases, as well as the invention ofnylon in the 1930s. Today, abaca is mostly used in a variety of specialized paper products includingtea bags,filter paper andbanknotes.Manila envelopes andManila paper derive their name from this fiber.[4][6]
Abaca is classified as ahard fiber, along withcoir,henequin andsisal. Abaca is grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines, Ecuador, Costa Rica.
The abacá plant isstoloniferous, meaning that the plant produces runners or shoots along the ground that then root at each segment.[1] Cutting and transplanting rooted runners is the primary technique for creating new plants, since seed growth is substantially slower.[nb 1][11] Abacá has a "false trunk" or pseudostem about 6–15 inches (15–38 cm) in diameter.[1] The leaf stalks (petioles) are expanded at the base to formsheaths that are tightly wrapped together to form the pseudostem. There are from 12 to 25 leaves, dark green on the top and pale green on the underside, sometimes with large brown patches. They are oblong in shape with a deltoid base.[1] They grow in succession. The petioles grow to at least 1 foot (30 cm) in length.[1]
When the plant is mature, the flower stalk grows up inside the pseudostem. The male flower has five petals, each about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long.[1] The leaf sheaths contain the valuable fiber. After harvesting, the coarse fibers range in length from 6–12 feet (180–370 cm) long.[1] They are composed primarily ofcellulose,lignin, andpectin.
The fruit, which is inedible[1] and is rarely seen as harvesting occurs before the plant fruits, grows to about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) in length and 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter.[1] It has black turbinate seeds that are 0.167 inches (0.42 cm) in diameter.[1]
The abacá plant belongs to thebanana family,Musaceae; it resembles the closely related wild seeded bananas,Musa acuminata andMusa balbisiana. Its scientific name isMusa textilis. Within thegenusMusa, it is placed in sectionCallimusa (now including the former sectionAustralimusa), members of which have adiploidchromosome number of 2n = 20.[12]
The Philippines, especially theBicol region in Luzon, has the most abaca genotypes and cultivars. Genetic analysis using simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers revealed that the Philippines' abaca germplasm is genetically diverse.[13] Abaca genotypes in Luzon had higher genetic diversity than Visayas and Mindanao.[13] Ninety-five (95) percent was attributed to molecular variance within the population, and only 5% of the molecular variance to variation among populations.[13] Genetic analysis by Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) revealed several clusters irrespective of geographical origin.[13]
Before synthetic textiles came into use,M. textilis was a major source of high quality fiber: soft, silky and fine.[14] Ancestors of the modern abacá are thought to have originated from the eastern Philippines, where there is significant rainfall throughout the year. Wild varieties of abacá can still be found in the interior forests of theisland province ofCatanduanes, away from cultivated areas.
Today, Catanduanes has many other modern kinds of abacá which are more competitive. For many years, breeders from various research institutions have made the cultivated varieties of Catanduanes even more competitive in local and international markets. This results in the optimum production of the island which had a consistent highest production throughout the archipelago.[16]
Europeans first came into contact with Abacá fibre whenFerdinand Magellan landed in the Philippines in 1521, as the natives were already cultivating it and utilizing it in bulk for textiles.[11] Throughout theSpanish colonial era, it was referred to as "medriñaque" cloth.[17]
By 1897, the Philippines were exporting almost 100,000 tons of abacá,[10] and it was one of the three biggest cash crops, along with tobacco and sugar.[18] In fact, from 1850 through the end of the 19th century, sugar or abacá alternated with each other as the biggest export crop of the Philippines.[18] This 19th-century trade was predominantly with theUnited States and the making of ropes was done mainly inNew England, although in time rope-making shifted back to the Philippines.[18]
From 1898 to 1946, theUnited States colonized the Philippines following theSpanish-American War. TheGuggenheim claims the "colonial government found ways to prevent Filipinos from profiting off of the abaca crops, instead favoring the businesses of American expats and Japanese immigrants, as well as ensuring that the bulk of the abaca harvests were exported to the United States" for use in military initiatives.[19]
In the early 1900s, a train running fromDanao toArgao would transport Philippine abacá from the plantations toCebu City for export.[20] The railway system was destroyed during World War II; the abaca continues to be transported to Cebu by road.[21]
Outside the Philippines, abacá was first cultivated on a large scale inSumatra in 1925 under theDutch, who had observed its cultivation in the Philippines forcordage since the nineteenth century, followed up by plantings inCentral America in 1929 sponsored by theU.S. Department of Agriculture.[22] It also was transplanted intoIndia andGuam.[11] Commercial planting began in 1930 inBritish North Borneo; at the onset ofWorld War II, the supply from the Philippines was eliminated by theEmpire of Japan.[22]
After the war, theU.S. Department of Agriculture started production inPanama,Costa Rica,Honduras, andGuatemala.[11]
Today, abacá is produced primarily in the Philippines and Ecuador.[23] The Philippines produces between 85%[24] and 95%[11] of the world's abacá, and the production employs 1.5 million people. Production has declined because of virus diseases.[24]
The plant is normally grown in well-drainedloamy soil, usingrhizomes planted at the start of the rainy season.[22] In addition, new plants can be started by seeds.[25] Growers harvest abacá fields every three to eight months after an initial growth period of 12–25 months.[1][22] Harvesting is done by removing the leaf-stems after flowering but before the fruit appears.[1] The plant loses productivity between 15 and 40 years.[26] The slopes of volcanoes provide a preferred growing environment.[27] Harvesting generally includes several operations involving the leaf sheaths:
When the processing is complete, the bundles of fiber are pale and lustrous with a length of 6–12 feet (1.8–3.7 m).[25]
![1. Abacá plants have several stalks which can be harvested annually and regenerate fully within a year.[28]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a01-QWSTION-BANANATEX-ABACA-LEAVES-LAUSCHSICHT.jpg)
![8. There they are sorted by colour grades, with lighter coloured fibres being more expensive due to their rarity.[29]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a23-QWSTION-BANANATEX-ABACA-GRADES.jpg)
In Costa Rica, more modern harvest and drying techniques are being developed to accommodate the very high yields obtained there.
According to thePhilippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, the Philippines provided 87.4% of the world's abacá in 2014, earning the Philippines US$111.33 million.[30] The demand is still greater than the supply.[30] The remainder came from Ecuador (12.5%) and Costa Rica (0.1%).[30] TheBicol region in the Philippines produced 27,885metric tons of abacá in 2014, the largest of anyPhilippine region.[30]
The Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP) and the Department of Agriculture reported that in 2009–2013, Bicol Region had a 39% share of Philippine abacá production of which an overwhelming 92% came fromCatanduanes Island. Eastern Visayas, the second largest producer had 24% and the Davao Region, the third largest producer had 11% of the total production. Around 42 percent of the total abacá fiber shipments from the Philippines went to the United Kingdom in 2014, making it the top importer.[30] Germany imported 37.1 percent abacá pulp from the Philippines, importing around 7,755 metric tons (MT).[30] Sales of abacá cordage surged 20 percent in 2014 to a total of 5,093 MT from 4,240 MT, with the United States holding around 68 percent of the market.[30]
Abacá is vulnerable to a number of pathogens, notablyabaca bunchy top virus,abaca bract mosaic virus,[24] andabaca mosaic virus.[31]
Due to its strength, it is a sought after product and is the strongest of the natural fibers.[11] It is used by the paper industry for such specialty uses such astea bags, banknotes[32] and decorative papers.[11] It can be used to make handcrafts such as hats,[33] bags, carpets, clothing and furniture.
Lupis is the finest quality of abacá.[34] Sinamay is woven chiefly from abacá.[35]
_(40246611432).jpg)
Abacá fibers were traditionally woven into sturdy textiles and clothing in the Philippines since pre-colonial times. Along withcotton, they were the main source of textile fibers used for clothing in the pre-colonial Philippines. Abacá cloth was often compared tocalico in terms of texture and was a major trade commodity in thepre-colonial maritime trade and theSpanish colonial era.[36][37] There are multiple traditional types and names of abaca cloth among the differentethnic groups of the Philippines. Undyed plain abacá cloth, woven from fine fibers of abaca, is generally known assinamáy in most of the islands. Abacá cloth with a more delicate texture is calledtinampipi. While especially fine lace-like abacá cloth is callednipis orlupis. Fine abacá fibers may also be woven withpiña,silk, or fine cotton to create a fabric calledjusi.[6]
Traditional abacá textiles were often dyed in various colors from variousnatural dyes. These include blue fromindigo (tarum,dagum,tayum, etc.); black fromebony (knalum orbatulinao) leaves; red fromnoni roots andsapang; yellow fromturmeric (kalawag,kuning, etc.); and so on. They were often woven into specific patterns, and further ornamented with embroidery, beadwork, and other decorations.[38][6] Most clothing made from abacá took the form of thebaro (alsobarú orbayú, literally "shirt" or "clothing"), a simple collar-less shirt or jacket with close-fitting long sleeves worn by both men and women in most ethnic groups in thepre-colonial Philippines. These were paired with wraparound sarong-like skirts (for both men and women), close-fitting pants, or loincloths (bahag).[6][39][40]
During theSpanish colonial era, abacá cloth became known asmedriñaque inSpanish (apparently derived from a nativeCebuano name). They were exported to other Spanish colonies since the 16th century. Awaistcoat of a nativeQuechua man inPeru was recorded as being made of medriñaque as early as 1584. Abacá cloth also appear in English records, spelled variously asmedrinacks,medrianacks,medrianackes, andmedrinacles, among other names. They were used ascanvas for sails and for stiffening clothing like skirts, collars, anddoublets.[6][36][41]
Philippine indigenous tribes still weave abacá-based textiles liket'nalak, made by theTiboli tribe ofSouth Cotabato, anddagmay, made by theBagobo people.[42] Abacá cloth is found in museum collections around the world, like the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Textile Museum of Canada.[43]
The inner fibers are also used in the making of hats, including the "Manila hats", hammocks, matting,cordage, ropes, coarse twines, and types of canvas.[43][44]
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Manila rope is a type ofrope made from manila hemp. Manila rope is very durable, flexible, and resistant tosalt water damage, allowing its use in rope,hawsers, ships' lines, andfishing nets.[22] A 1 inch (2.5 cm) rope can require 4 metric tons (8,800 lb) to break.[27] Manila rope is still the only material specified for lifeboat falls (the ropes with which a ship's lifeboat is lowered) in the United Kingdom.[47]
Manila ropes shrink when they become wet. This effect can be advantageous under certain circumstances, but if it is not a wanted feature, it should be well taken into account. Since shrinkage is more pronounced the first time the rope becomes wet, new rope is usually immersed into water and put to dry before use so that the shrinkage is less than it would be if the rope had never been wet. A major disadvantage in this shrinkage is that many knots made with manila rope became harder and more difficult to untie when wet, thus becoming subject of increased stress. Manila rope will rot after a period of time when exposed to saltwater.
Manila hemp rope was previously the favoured variety of rope used for executions by hanging, both in the U.K. and USA. Usually3⁄4 to 1 inch (19 to 25 mm) diameter, boiled prior to use to take out any overelasticity. Abacá fiber was once used primarily for rope, but this application is now of minor significance.
Tagal.
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