Leaf fiber

Leaf fibers or hard fibers are a type of plant fiber mainly used for cordage (producing rope). They are the toughest of the plant fibers which is most likely due to their increased lignin content when compared to the other groups of plant fibers.[1] They are typically characterized as being very tough and rigid lending them towards being used in rope production over clothing or paper like other plant fibers.[2]

Abaca that has been stripped down to just the fibrous material

Leaf fibers can be found in the vascular bundles of plant leaves and therefore consist of both phloem and xylem tissues and any other vascular sheathing tissues (for example sclerenchyma cells). More specifically, leaf fibers are typically found in monocotyledonous leaves.[1]

The fibers are harvested from plants in long, thin bundles mainly through the process of decortication which is where the non-fibrous tissues are scraped away from the plant fibers by hand or in a machine. For the majority of cases, the leaves must be hand-picked from the plant at maturity before undergoing decortication which causes the harvesting of hard fibers to be a very energy and time intensive task.[3]. Identifying a precise date for the discovery of leaf fiber is difficult, but evidence from archaeological discoveries and historical texts suggests that many ancient societies utilized plant fibers, including those obtained from leaves, for diverse purposes since ancient eras.

Sisal and abaca are the primary leaf fibers that are harvested and sold. These are both mainly used to make rope or matting but, as technology continues to advance these, and other, hard fibers are being able to be broken down and pulped to be used in paper products.[1]

Not much research is being looked into the possibilities and abilities of leaf fibers as they are very hard to harvest and process so synthetic fibers are more commonly used in their place.[3]

Common fibers
  • Abaca (Manila Hemp) - cordage
  • Piña - cloth
  • Sisal - cordage, matting
  • Cantala - woven fabrics
  • Phormium - flax, cordage

References
  1. Levetin, Estelle; McMahon, Karen (2012). Plants and Society. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pp. 297–298. ISBN 978-0-07-352422-1.
  2. Ilvessalo-Pfäffli, Marja-Sisko (1995). Fiber Atlas. Springer. pp. Chapter 9. ISBN 978-3-662-07212-7.
  3. "Leaf Fibre". Encyclopædia Britannica. 1998-07-20.
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