Abacá, << `ah` buh KAH, >> is a plant grown in Borneo, the Philippines, and Sumatra for its fiber. The plant grows about 20 feet (6 meters) high and has large oblong leaves. 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 fiber. The coarse fibers range from 5 to 11 1/2 feet (1.5 to 3.5 meters) in length. They are composed primarily of the plant materials cellulose, lignin, and pectin. After the fiber has been separated, it is sold under the name manila. The fiber gets its name from the major city of the Philippines.
Growers harvest abacá fields every three to eight months. They cut down the mature plants, but allow the roots to remain in the ground. New plants grow from the old roots. The leaf sheaths are detached in strips. The pulp is scraped off, leaving only the fiber strands, which are twisted into rope. Abacá fiber is strong and has great natural resistance to water, sun, and wind. In addition, abacá is also used for paper products.
