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FIBRE YIELDING PLANTS of INDIA Genetic Resources, Perspective for Collection and Utilisation

FIBRE YIELDING PLANTS of INDIA Genetic Resources, Perspective for Collection and Utilisation

Article

FIBRE YIELDING OF Genetic resources, perspective for collection and utilisation

Anjula Pandey and Rita Gupta National Bureau of Genetic Resources, New Delhi-110012, India (excluding wood fibres) are grouped into Abstract soft fibres/ bast fibres, hard fibres or structural fibres and surface fibres. Bast The provides a brief overview of the major fibre yielding plants and fibres are exogenous in origin and are their uses in India. This account includes data mainly based on field experience, generally more durable, resistant to market surveys, ethnobotanical information and other relevant literature retting, bleaching and other processing available on this account. The enumeration of the species listed under various treatments. They are associated with plant families provides ready reference for use and commercial names of vascular tissues, such as , pericycle important fibre types. The analysis provides the untapped wealth under this and cortex. Examples of bast fibres are category for widening the base of fibre genetic resources, future collections , , , roselle, , etc. and utilisation. The promising species thus indicated may provide scope for Structural fibres primarily associated with domestication and future cultivation. monocotyledonous plants are shorter, lignified cells surrounding vascular tissue. Introduction Gradual depletion of forest They are endogenous in nature, coarse, resources of plant based material resulted weaker, hard and brittle and thus less Among the plant species in loss of important diversity. The plant durable than the bast fibres. The common commonly used by man the fibre yielding fibres have specific qualities such as examples include , and plants hold the second position after the thermal insulation, resistance to water and Kittul fibres. The separation is done by plants in their economic importance. other desirable traits. To increase constant mechanical methods using simple rollers; The ancient man started his nomadic life supply of raw materials to plant fibre based washing, beating and thrashing process is by using plant materials directly for industries a need was to explore and usually applied to make them into shreds. covering and protecting his body; thatched identify alternative materials. By identifying The surface fibres originate from the seed/ for shelters and huts; mats for new fibre yielding species as well as novel fruit surface. and the cottons household and other day to day activities. uses of fibre through research and are common examples of commercial Gradually fast mobility and advancement development, there would be decrease in surface fibres. Fibre separation is done by in the lifestyle led him to search for lighter, pressure on handful number of species the process of ginning and mechanical more durable and sophisticated looking used for fibre, besides supporting the extraction. material for routine use. There began an small scale industry and reinforcing fibre The plant fibres are variable in era of developing different types of , for waste fibre recycling (Gillah et al, characteristics with respect to strength, , basketories, woven clothes, mats, 1998; Velasquez, 2001). The present durability, length, texture, plant part in , and cordage material for enumeration is an effort in this direction. which present, chemical composition, various uses. Some of the oldest The plant fibres are classified pigmentation, resistance to water, etc. archaeological records of direct or mainly on the basis of morphological Fibre durability depends largely on the indirect use of fibre from plants are given nature, structure, origin and uses. Based chemical nature of the deposits and in Table 1. on botanical origin, vegetable fibres location in plant tissue. The cellulosic

194 Natural Product Radiance Vol 2(4) July-August 2003 Article fibres such as ramie and fibres are Centre); Musa textilis Nees (South east species contribute as major cultivated fibre more durable than the ligno-cellulosic Asian Centre); Corchorus capsularis crops. However several of the species are fibres, jute and mesta. The strength of fibre Linn., Crotalaria juncea Linn. and gathered from wild and exploited for is mainly due to purity of , Hibiscus cannabinus Linn. commercial use. thickness of the cell wall and the (Hindustani Centre); sisalana A total of 82 plant families, clustering. Perr. (Meso-American Centre) and representing 273 genera and 453 plant The present work was hirsutum Linn. (South species from India have been used for undertaken to enumerate Indian species American Centre). Presently in India eight diverse fibre uses. A comprehensive list reported to have fibre value, identifying gaps for collection and conservation programmes and their utilisation at national and international levels. The investigation was done during study on 'Genetic Resources of Economically Important Plant Families` taken up in the National Herbarium of Cultivated Plants, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR) during the period Cannabis sativus 1986-2000. The data input includes major and minor, cultivated and wild, indigenous nivea and exotic plant wealth exploited for fibre in different parts of India. The information gathered through field experience, material collected through various explorations, ethnobotanical studies, literature surveys and taxonomic identification of materials received through different plant genetic resources activities, formed the basis for authentication. Fibre yielding species - An Agave sisalana analysis of useful genetic resources Calotropis procera Species have not been exploited equally from different phytogeographical regions of the world for their use as fibres. Vavilov (1951) identified several cultivated species from different world centers of diversity namely Abutilon theophrastii Medic., Boehmeria nivea Gaud., Musa textilis Ananas comosus Cannabis sativus Linn.(Chinese

Natural Product Radiance Vol 2(4) July-August 2003 195 Article of major families and genera (number of Mart., Melochia corchorifolia Linn., For filling of articles like pillows, species in parenthesis) contributing as Cryptolepis grandiflora, Crotalaria mattresses, toys, soft fibre from fibre genetic resources viz. juncea Linn., Entada phaseoloides Gossypium, Ceiba and Bombax and (63), Fabaceae (31), Arecaceae (25), Merrill, Artocarpus altilis (Park.) rejects from other sources are often used. (24), Tiliaceae (21), Fosberg, Trema cannabina Lour., The fibres from Phoenix sylvestris Sterculiaceae (21) and Asclepiadaceae Oreocnide frutescens Miq., Roxb. and (Linn.) (15) are given in Table 2. The most Calotropis gigantea (Linn.) R.Br., Gaertn. are thermal insulator. The curled commonly exploited taxa are marked with C. procera (Ait.)R. Br., Boehmeria fibre from Chamaerops humilis is asterisk (*). List of commercial species spp. and Debregeasia wallichiana used for stuffing and manufacture. along with trade names/ commonly used Wedd. Hard fibres or structural fibres names are listed in Table 3. The manufacture of paper from are mainly used for making articles like Majority of the species are pulp has been known in from very basketories, mats, hats and brushes. For exploited from wild or semi-cultivated early times. In India generally diverse type this purpose parts like , green spathe state (Negi, 1992). The plant fibres are of material is used for manufacture of and dried stalks are used. The most extracted from different parts such as paper such as different species of commonly used types being from stem, leaf, petioles, roots, fruits and seeds. , refuge from industry, Caryota utilis, C. urens Linn., In comparison to other plant parts, the grasses and sedges (mainly Cyperus). Phoenix, Phytolephas, Raphia bast fibres have been of maximum use for The rice straw, young bamboos, bark of farinifera Hylander and many other extraction of fibre. A few species paper mulberry are regular source of soft types locally preferred. In this category contribute as source of fibre from roots and flexible fibres generally used for majority of fibres are contributed from and stems both (eg. Cissus paper. Unique examples are the home different genera under families Araceae, quadrangularis Linn.)and from roots made paper of Assam from bark of Arecaceae, Liliaceae and Poaceae (Muhlenbergia). Natural fibre cloth Aquilaria agallocha Roxb. and (Table 2). known as trapa cloth is made from bark Lasiosiphon eriocephalus Decne of Paper-Mulberry (Broussonetia and rice paper from Wikstroemia Important fibre yielding papyrifera Vent.). canescens Meissn. (in China and species The fibres are mainly used for Assam). Among the much used species are textile and paper manufacture, filling, Daphne cannabina Wall., Urtica The fibres obtained from the making ropes, fishing nets and cordage, spp., Broussonetia papyrifera Vent., grass family were probably among the first thatch, hats and other materials Hibiscus cannabinus Linn., H. ones to be used for various purposes. The and brush making. For items like gunny sabdariffa Linn., Streblus asper indigenous grass, Erianthus munja , ropes, cordage, fishing nets, bast Lour., Parkinsonia aculeate Linn., Jesw. is made into ropes that are resistant fibres of commercially exploited species Linum usitatissimum Linn., Betula to water and used for tying cattle. such as Corchorus spp., Hibiscus, alnoides Buch.-Ham. (Indian Birch), Spartium junceum Linn. is used for Linum and Urena have often been Cannabis sativa Linn. ( preparing different articles requiring high used. spp., Picea smithiana Boiss., strength and durability. Cyperus The items made from bast fibres tropical pines etc., Borassus flabellifer corymbosus Rottb. called papyrus are more durable than those from the Linn. (Palmyra palm) and Corypha pangorei, the Madoorkati of Bengal is used structural fibres. Fishing nets/fishing umbraculifera Linn. However, high for making shining mats. lines are prepared from strong and quality fine paper is made from fibres The cotton grass, Eriophorum water resistant bast fibres of Pongamia of different palm species, bamboos and cannabinum commonly called the False pinnata Pierre, Pandanus thwaitsii refuge from . Bhabar grass and Eulaliopsis binata

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(Retz.)C. E. Hubbard, the Bhabar grass Sterculia, Abroma and Guazuma. In roxburghiana Schult. f. fibres (60 cm are known for their strength and use in Assam fibre from Sterculia villosa long under cultivation) identical to China ropes, employed by the mountaineers, Roxb. (Udal) a native of the hilly regions grass are ideal for making bowstring and jhoolas and over bridges on rivers. In of West Bengal is used for making breast fine thread for ornamental purposes. the tropical parts of India, palms are used bands used for tying wild elephants. The In family Malvaceae, among the for various purposes. Narrow leaved types ropes made from Microlaena cultivated species cottons are the source are plaited into mats and basketories and spectabilis (a tree at foothills of the of high quality cellulosic fibre form seed smooth leaves for writing. Leaves of many Himalayas) is used for same purpose surface. Other genera namely palms are employed for thatching, hats elsewhere. Hibiscus, Kydia, Sida, Thespesia and for making mats and umbrellas. and Urena are also source of bast Licuala peltata Roxb., the Chattah-pat fibres. Wissadula periplocifolia of Assam is in universal demand in this Presl ex Thw. yields soft, silky and area as Phoenix sylvestris Roxb. for spinable fibre of superior quality mats and baskets in Bengal region. compared to jute. Hibiscus Borassus flabellifer, cannabinus Linn., the mesta, or patua Caryota urens, Corypha taliera of West Bengal cultivated all over India is Roxb. (Bengal-tara) and used for fibre. In Bihar ropes made from C. umbraculifera Linn. (Buri palm) its fibre, though harsher, are more and C. utan Lam. (the talipat of durable than those made from the jute. Peninsular region) are much employed In family Tiliaceae major fibre for making hats and leaf umbrellas. The yielding genera are Grewia, black fibre of Caryota urens (Kittul Corchorus and Triumfetta. Grewia fibre) from leaf bases measures 70-80 cm Ananas comosus optiva Drum. commonly called Russian (Macmillan, 1991) and is used for making bast or bhimal is employed for ropes in strong ropes employed for tying wild Ananas comosus (Linn.) mountainous region (Sneh Lata, 1997). elephants. Ejoo or Gomuti fibre from Merrill the pineapple is recommended Besides the cultivated species of Arenga spinnata is black, hard, hair for manufacture of pina cloth which is a Corchorus, wild species occurring as like, strong, more durable, but less pliant delicate fabric of Philippines. The Moorva weeds in different parts of India are much and elastic than the . They resist decay of South America and the inner fibres of used for extraction of fibre. Cannabis and are more fit for cables and standing the plantain, resemble each other in sativa of Cannabinaceae is cultivated in ringing. fineness and fitness of fibre as textile Himalayas for fibre and in plains for other Coir (Cocos nucifera Linn.), fabrics, which are esteemed. The refuge uses (Shah, 1997). owing to unique thermal qualities is much from this may be excellent material for Among the family Fabaceae preffered to other fibres for use as cordage paper making. The pita fibre, Yucca, New Crotalaria juncea is known for the use fibre in place of hair for stuffing Zealand Flax, Manila hemp and fibre from as strong fibre that is more resistant to jute. mattresses. Other palms as Zalacca plantains, are coarse in texture and fit for The thread was used for sacred thread macrostachya is used for making cordage and ordinary purpose. worn by the Kshatrias or Rajputs as of baskets and for tying Nipa leaves. The In North West India, the leaves cottons by the Brahmins (Royle, 1984). leaves of Nicobar bread fruit (Pandanus of Typha elephantiana Roxb. and Besides, bark of other species such as odoratissimus Linn. f.) dried over fire T. angustifolia Watt are used for C. retusa is employed in , are used to make mats, baskets and other making mats. Fibre extracted from Agave C. burhia in Rajasthan and others articles. Among other species, silk cottons cantala Roxb. is a cheap substitute elsewhere for and making cordage. are mainly contributed from Bombax, for and cord. Sansevieria Sesbania aculeata Pers., a cultivated

Natural Product Radiance Vol 2(4) July-August 2003 197 Article species yielding fibre (3m long) which is fibre of strong nature. Bark of Urtica and geographical distribution, area of coarser and more harsher than that of Boehmeria with strong fibres are occurrence, availability and abundance of hemp and more durable in water. Despite potentially important species in paper the species, local preferences, agro- having excellent fibre qualities this crop industry. U. tuberosa used by the native climatic conditions, socio-economic remains much more neglected for its fibre Indians for edible root-stocks may be setup, facilities available for processing, value. The fibre obtained from other searched for its potential as fibre types. transport and marketing of products. The leguminous species as Bauhinia vahlii U. dioica, the string nettle of Himalayas areas near water sources were identified Wight & Arn., Butea monosperma is now identified as fibre yielding species as the seat for selection of (Lam.) Kuntze and Parkinsonia of commercial importance and export yielding species. Species known to be aculeata Linn. remain exploited at local potential for cottage and textile industry. resistant to water were mainly used for levels. Amongst the oldest exogenous making fishing nets, water proof material Members of family Urticaceae are plant fibres, flax (Linum andropes near coastal areas. The known to yield high quality bast fibre. usitatissimum Linn.), member of structural fibres are exploited in areas Boehmeria nivea Gaud. (ramie, the Linaceae, was cultivated in India since time where palms and other Arecaceae China grass fibre) has of late attracted the immemorial. But its use as fibre plant members are commonly available. For consideration for use as fibre in our in India is recent. This may be because similar types of fibre articles different, country on account of its white silky fibre in India cotton was much preferred species are exploited in different areas used singly or in combination for different for use than any other species. where found in plenty. For example uses. Other species of importance are Of the Asclepiadaceae members, Grewia optiva for ropes in hills and B. macrophylla D. Don, B. akund floss, obtained from Calotropis Corchorus, Hibiscus and Urtica malabarica Wedd., B. platyphylla procera (Ait.)R. Br. and C. gigantea dioca in the north region for same D. Don, Oreocnide frutescens Miq., (Linn.) R. Br. ex Ait. mainly from the purposes. Pipturus incanus Wedd., Pouzolzia seed fibre of former, is available from the There are several substitutes for viminea Wedd. and Trema orientalis wild population in different part of India. commertial fibres that can be identified Blume. These species yield strong fibre Australia and the New Zealand were once and evaluated for specific uses. Fibres for making fishing lines. Among the the chief markets for Indian akund floss from Canna orientalis Ker-Gawl, species that can substitute for ramie are (Maheshwari and Tandon, 1959). In Triumfetta pentandra A. Rich., O. integrifolia and Sarcocalamys Rajasthan and adjacent region, ropes and Wissadula periplocifolia as substitute pulcherrima. Girardinia spp. and other items prepared from the bark of C. for jute; Clinogyne dichotoma Laportea crenulata Gaud. yield tribal procera are reported to be more durable Salisb. for Panama fibre for jute; Urtica cloth. B. rugulosa, a good species for than the sunhemp and thus good substitute pilulifera Linn. for flax and ramie are bare hill slopes to prevent soil erosion is for the latter (Pers. com. 2001). some examples. The common plantain equally important fibre source in Members of the family Moraceae fibre though does not possess the strength Himalayas. are known to yield low grade bast fibres of the Manila hemp, yet same may be Fibres obtained from used for rope and cordage making. Among suitable for other uses as cordage, , Boehmeria sp. (mesakhee fibre) and the commonest species used for this fine fabrics and articles of lusters and Urtica crenulata (chor putta or purpose, Artocarpus altilis yields water decorative use. surat) commonly growing in the hills and resistant fibres. Other species are Ficus valleys of Bangladesh are commonly used religiosa Linn. formerly used for paper Priorities and prospects for by the tribals for making cloths. Another making and Broussonetia papyrifera collection species Urtica heterophylla (the a source of lustrous fibre. The genetic resources of horoo surat of Assam) a widely Exploitation of fibre yielding important fibre yielding species and their occurring species yields white glossy, silky species for various uses is linked to their substitutes have been highlighted for the

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Indian region. Since 1976, the National Orissa, Haryana, Bihar, Assam, UP, TN, AP, on plant fibre industry all over the world, Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources has Gujarat, J&K and Jharkhand. particularly in terms of production, export undertaken several explorations for Augmentation of germplasm has and end uses. The forestry based plant collection of fibre yielding species from been done for fibre and allied crops from products can contribute to the income of different parts of the country. In total more national and international sources through the rural population. The raw material than, 14 explorations have been carried the active involvement of institutions such collected from the wild and processed for out and over 790 germplasm accessions as Central Research Institute for Jute and getting fibre for small scale/ cottage of fibre types have been collected from Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), Barrakpore (Sinha industry can generate rural employment diverse parts of India. This includes et al, 1987). Under this variability in and income especially for poor and collections of all four species in cotton, Corchorus capsularis, Crotalaria landless farmers in the rural and tribal from NEH region, Saurashtra and Kachchh juncea, Gossypium arboreum areas of the country. Moreover, of Gujarat, north Karnataka and south Linn. and Hibiscus cannabinus has dependency on handful number of species coastal region in Andhra Pradesh been assembled. The supportive for fibre yield for day to day requirements (extending to Tamil Nadu), and parts of research programmes running at CRIJAF, can be reduced by identifying and adopting Jammu, Malva and Nimar region of Barrakpore pointed out the researchable large number of allied species that can Madhya Pradesh. issues like fibre yield and quality supplement to the fibre requirement with Among the major fibre yielding characters, retting of stem, fibre extraction same or better potential. species, in Corchorus, five hundred nine and sundrying of processed and wet fibre The research and development accessions of the cultivated and wild types after extraction, estimation of dry fibre activities, despite abundance of fibre have been assembled from Garo hills in yield in the different germplasm of yielding species in native country, has not Meghalaya, Mikir hills and Goalpara in Hibiscus cannabinus, H. geared up to the level to attracted the Assam, tribal pockets in Orissa, Bihar, sabdariffa, sunhemp, jute, mesta and attention it deserves. Potential species Saurashtra and Kachchh in Gujarat and flex. mostly grow wild or form the refuge under parts of Rajasthan. A total of 519 In major fibre crops of India cultivation; generally on seacoasts and accessions of (Hibiscus efforts need to be made for pinpointing forest undergrowth. They are traversed by cannabinus) and roselle (Hibiscus the priority collections (Arora, 1991). The navigable rivers and cost little for carriage. sabdariffa) and sunhemp (Crotalaria identified gap areas for collection include If low-cost techniques are available for juncea) were collected from Telangana, specific variability for cotton in cold their extraction and processing, the Rayalseema, and coastal Andhra Pradesh, tolerant types from J&K; Nagaland, benefits may be multi-fold to raise the and from Western Ghats in Maharashtra Manipur, Maharashtra and Telangana economy of rural population. Reduced (Verma and Kumar, 1992). Much region of Andhra Pradesh for local varients cost of manufacture of fibre based variability in jute from parts of West (Malik et al, 2001). The potential types produce may also supplement to national Bengal, Bihar, Orissa and NEH region and substitute species for other fibre crops economy by many folds. Thus a large needs to be explored. need to be identified and evaluated for number of plant species can largely Under a mission mode their traits and requisite collections be contribute to economic upliftment of local programme of the National Agricultural made. The most urgent research and people through development of R&D Technology Project (NATP) on Sustainable development issues need is to be explored programmes suitable for small scale Management of Plant Biodiversity at the and sorted out for more efficient and industrialization. NBPGR, during 1999-2001, collections of cheaper ways to explore them. different accessions of cotton, jute, Acknowledgements sunhemp, kenaf, roselle, and others were Conclusions assembled from parts of Kerala, Mizoram, With the advancement of The authors are thankful to MP, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Pondicherry, synthetic fibres there has been an effect the Director, National Bureau of Plant

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Genetic Resources, New Delhi for Rajkamal Electric Press, Delhi, 1998, 14. Sinha, MK, Mahapatra, AK, Guharoy, constant encouragement in shaping this 604 p. MK, Shome, A and Chakrabarti, NK, information. Thanks are also due to the Genetic Resources of Jute and Allied Head, Division of Germplasm 7. Macmillan, HF, Tropical planting and Fibres. In: Plant Genetic Resources: Exploration and Collection for providing gardening, sixth edition, Malaysian An Indian Persepective. Paroda, material, information and help. Senior Nature Society, Kuala Lampur, RS, and Arora, RK (eds.), pp 232- author's sincere thanks are due to all Malaysia, 1991. 242. National Bureau of Plant our exploration colleagues for their Genetic Resources, New Delhi, 1987, constant support and help in field 8. Maheshwari, P and Tondon SL, 545 p. study and raising the material in pot Agriculture and Economic cultures. Development in India, Econ Bot, 15. Sneh Lata, Indigenous knowledge 1959, 13(3), 205-243. about Grewia optiva in Indo- Himalayas, Ethnobotany, 1997, 9 References 9. Malik, SS, Srivastava, U, Tomar, JB, (1 & 2), 112-116. Bharandari, DC, Pandey, Anjula and 1. Ambasta, SP, Ramachandran, K, Dikshit, N, In : Plant Exploration and 16. Vavilov, The origin, variation, Kashyap, K and Chand, R, The Useful Germplasm Collection, NBPGR- A immunity and breeding of cultivated Plants of India. Council of Scientific Compendium of Achievements. crops, Chron Bot, 1951, 13, 364. and Industrial Research, New Delhi, Dhillon, BS, Varaprasad, KS, 1986, 918 p. Srinivasan, K, Singh, M, Archak, S, 17. Velasquez, JR, Wounaan and Embera Srivastava, UC and Sharma, GD (eds.), Uses and Management of the Fibre 2. ITM, Identification of textile material. National Bureau of Plant Genetic Palm Astrocaryum standleyanum The Textile Institute. Seventh edition, Resources, New Delhi, 2001, pp. (Arecaceae) for basketories in Manchester, UK, 1985, 390 p. 31-68, 329 p. eastern Panama, Econ Bot, 2001, 55(1), 72-82. 3. Arora, RK, Plant diversity in Indian 10. Negi, RS, Economic Forest Resources Gene Centre. In: Plant Genetic of Garhwal-Kumaon Himalayas. 18. Verma, VD and Kumar, D, Collecting Resources Conservation and Indian For, 1992, 118(8): jute and kenaf from Western Ghats of Management: Concept and Approach. 583-593. Maharashtra, IBPGR Newsletter IBPGR Regional Office for South and for and the Pacific and South , New Delhi, 1991. 11. Pers. Com.. Old farmer, village Dera, Oceania, 1992, 10, 14-15. Shairagarh Tehsil, Rajasthan, 2001. 4. Gillah, PR, Irle, MA and Amartey, SA, 19. Vishnu Mitre, Paleobotanical Sisal fibres as a potential raw material 12. Royle, JF, The fibrous plants of India Evidences in India, In: Evolutionary for medium density fibre board fitted for cordage, and paper Studies in World Crops: Diversity and production in , Annals with an account of the cultivation and Changes in the Indian Subcontinent, Forestry, 1998, 6(2), 159-172. preparation of flax, hemp, and their Hutchinson J(ed.), London, substitutes. Periodical Experts Book Cambridge, 1974, 179 p. 5. Islam, M, Certain fibre yielding plants Agency, Delhi, 1984(reprint), 408 p. of north eastern region, J Econ Tax 20. Wiersema, JH and Blanca Leon, World Bot, 1984, 5, 767-783. 13. Shah, NC, Ethnobotany of Cannabis Economic Plants of India – A standard sativa in Kumaon Region, India, reference. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 6. Kochhar, SL, Economic botany in Ethnobotany, 1997, 9 (1 & 2), London, New York Washington, DC, the tropics. Macmillan India Ltd. 117-121. 1999, 749 p.

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Table 1. Archaeological evidences for use of plant fibres

Items/articles Source/places Period

Cotton & silk Nevasa 1500 BC Cotton fibre (fibres on copper Mohenjo-daro & Harappa, India 2300-1750 BC tools & impressions on silver vessels) Crafted (from Apocynum) Danger caves, Utah, USA 5000 BC Flax fibre (from linseed) Swiss lake dwellings; paintings in 10000 BC; 4000 yrs; Egyptian tomb; mummy draped in 1400-1200 BC cloth; spun fibre at Chandoli, India Palm leaf fibre Tehucan valley excavations, 12000 yrs Ropes Egyptian tombs;tomb paintings 4000 yrs;500 BC Textile impressions Iron Age Shreds, Mysore, India 1000 BC Urticaceous fibres Atranji Khera, India 1200-600 BC Source: Vishnu Mitre, 1974; Royle, 1984

Table 2. Major plant families and genera used for fibre in India

Family Genera (species no.)

Acanthaceae Carvia (1) Agavaceae *Agave (5),* (6), Phormium* (1), Sansevieria (5),Yucca (3) Alocaceae Aloe (1) Amaranthaceae Celosia (1) Anacardiaceae Lannea (1), Spondias (1), Swintonia (1) Annonaceae Desmos (1), Goniothalamus (1), Miliusa (1), Polyalthia (2) Apocynaceae Alstonia (1), Anodendron (1), Beaumontia (1), Chonemorpha (1), Ichnocarpus(1), Melodinus (1) Araceae Cailliea (1), Lasia (1), Scindapsus (1) Araliaceae *Tetrapanax (1) Araucariaceae *Araucaria (1) Arecaceae Arenga (2), Borassus (1), Caryota(2), Chamaerops (2), Coccothrinax (1), *Cocos (1), Corypha (1), Licuala (1), Livistona (2), Nannorrhops (1), Phoenix (4), Phytelephas (1), Raphia (3), Sabal (1), Syagrus (1), Trachycarpus (1), Washingtonia (1) Asclepiadaceae Asclepias (1), *Calotropis (2), Cryptolepis (2), Dregea (1), Holostemma (1), Hoya (1), Leptadenia (1), Marsdenia (2), Orthanthera (1), Telosma (1), Tylophora (1) Asteraceae Gerbera (1), Helianthus (1) Betulaceae Betula (1) Bignoniaceae Dolichandrone (2), Spathodea (1) Adansonia (1), Bombax (1), *Ceiba (1), Ochroma (1) Boraginaceae Cordia (1) Bromeliaceae Bromelia (1)

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Family Genera (species no.)

Burseraceae *Boswellia (1) Cactaceae Opuntia (1) Caesalpiniaceae Bauhinia (9), Hardwickia (1), Parkinsonia (1), Schizolobium (1), Tamarindus (1) Cannabinaceae *Cannabis (1), Humulus (1) Cannaceae Canna (1) Caprifoliaceae Lonicera (1) Celastraceae Catha (1) Combretaceae *Terminalia (2) Cucurbitaceae Sechium (1) Cupressaceae Thuja (1) Cyclanthaceae Carludovica (1) Cyperaceae *Cyperus (3), Cladium (1), Eriophorum (1), Fimbristylis (2), Scirpus (1), Scirpodendron (1), Scleria (1), *Furcraea (6) Dilleniaceae Dillenia (1), *Tetracera (1) Dipterocarpaceae Shorea (1) Euphorbiaceae Aleurites (1), Drypetes (1), *Endospermum (1), Jatropha (1), Macaranga (1) Fabaceae Aeschynomene (1), Butea (2),* Crotalaria (6), Derris (1), Desmodium (1), Erythrina (2), Glycine (1), *Indigofera (3), Lespedeza(1), Millettia (1), Ougeinia (1), Pachyrrhizus (1), Pueraria (2), Robinia (1), Sesbania (4), Spartium (1), Wisteria (1) Fagaceae Castanea (1), Fagus (1) Gleicheniaceae Dicranopteris (1) Gnetaceae Gnetum (2) Goodeniaceae Scaveola (1) Hydrocharitaceae Enhalus (1) Iridaceae Iris (1) Juncaceae Juncus (2) Lecythidaceae Careya (1) Liliaceae Curculigo (2) Linaceae *Linum (1) Lythraceae Lagerstroemia (2) Malvaceae Abelmoschus (5), Abutilon (8), Althaea (1), Azanza (1), *Gossypium (4), *Hibiscus (13), Kydia (1), Malachra (1), Malvastrum (1), Pavonia (2), Sida (5), Thespesia (1), *Urena (3), Wissadula (1) Marantaceae Clinogyne (1) Melastomataceae Melastoma (1) Meliaceae Soymida (1) Menispermaceae Cissampelos (1), Hypserpa (1) Mimosaceae *Acacia (5), Entada (1), Leucaena (1), Parapiptadenia (1), Xylia (1) Moraceae Allaeanthus (1), Antiaris (1), Artocarpus (1), Broussonetia (1), *Ficus (8), Morus (1), Streblus (1) Musaceae Ensete (1), Musa (2) Myrtaceae Eucalyptus (1) Nelumbonaceae Nelumbo (1)

202 Natural Product Radiance Vol 2(4) July-August 2003 Article

Family Genera (species no.)

Nyssaceae Nyssa (1) Orchidaceae Dendrobium (1) Pandanaceae Pandanus (3) Periplocaceae Periploca (1) Pinaceae *Abies(1), Cunninghamia (1), Cupressus (1), Juniperus (2), Picea (1), Pinus (1) Poaceae Andropogon (1), Arundinaria (3), Bambusa (9), Cymbopogon (1), Dendrocalamus (3), Desmostachya (1), Erianthus (1), Eulaliopsis (1), Heteropogon (1), Hierochloe (1), Imperata (1), Lasiurus (1), Muhlenbergia (1), Neohouzeaua (2), Ochlandra (2), Oxytenanthera (1), Pennisetum (1), Phragmites (1), Phalaris (1), Phyllostachys (2), Saccharum (2), Schoenefeldia (1), Sclerostachya (1), Secale (1), Sehima (1), Sorghum (1), Stipa (1), Thamnocalamus (2), Themeda (3),Thyrsotachys (1), Vetiveria (1), Vossia (1), Zea (1) Polypodiaceae Stenochlaena (1) Pontederiaceae Eichhornia (1) Ranunculaceae Clematis (1), Naravelia (1) Rhamnaceae Ventilago (1) Rhizophoraceae Bruguierea (1), *Rhizophora (1) Rosaceae *Cotoneaster (1), *Rubus (1) Rubiaceae Anthocephalus (1), Canthium (1), Mitragyna (1), Nauclea (1) Salicaceae *Salix (6) Saxifragaceae Philadelphus (1) Sonneratiaceae Sonneratia (1) Sphagnaceae Sphagnum (3) Sterculiaceae Abroma(1), Dombeya (1), Eriolaena (1), Erythropsis (2), Guazuma (1), Helicteres (1), Kleinhovia (1), Melochia (2), Pentapetes (1), Pterospermum (2), Pterocymbium (1), Pterygota (1), Scaphium (1), Sterculia (6) Taxodiaceae Sequoia (1), Taxodium (1) Theaceae *Schima (1) Thymelaeaceae Aquilaria (2), *Daphne (4), Edgeworthia (1), Gyrinops (1), Lasiosiphon (1), Wikstroemia (1) Tiliaceae Berrya (1), *Corchorus (3), Erinocarpus (1), *Grewia (9), Microcos (1), Muntingia (1), Sparrmannia (1), Tilia (1), Trichospermum (1), Triumfetta (3) Typhaceae Typha (3) Ulmaceae Holoptelea (1), Trema (3), Ulmus (1) Urticaceae *Boehmeria (5), Debregeasia (4), Forskohlea (1), Girardinia (3), Gonostegia (1), Laportea (1), Maoutia (1), Oreocnide (2), Pilea (2), Pipturus (1), Pouzolzia (1), Sarcochlamys (1), *Urtica (3) Verbenaceae *Gmelina (1) Vitaceae *Cissus (3)

* : most commonly exploited species Data compiled from: Ambasta et al, 1986; Islam, 1984; ITM, 1985; Wiersema and Leon, 1999.

Natural Product Radiance Vol 2(4) July-August 2003 203 Article

Table 3. Some fibre yielding crops and their commercial fibres

Plant species Commercial fibres

Abroma augusta L. Perennial Indian hemp, Devil's cotton Abutilon theophrastii Medic. Abutilon hemp, American jute Agave cantala Roxb. Maguey, Cantala, Bombay hemp, Bombay aloe Agave sisalana Perr. Sisal Ananas comosus (L.) Merrill Pina fibre Arenga pinnata (Wurmb.) Merrill Gomuti palm fibre Betula alnoides Buch.-Ham. Indian birch, Bhojpatra Betula utilis D.Don Himalayan silver birch, Bhujpattra Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich Ramie fibre, China grass, Rhea, Chinese silk plant Bromelia magdalenae C.H.Wright Pita fibre Bromelia pinguin L. Pingvin, Wild pineapple fibre Broussonetia papyrifera (L.) Vent Paper mulberry, Trapa cloth fibre Calotropis gigantea (L.) R. Br. ex Ait. Akund fibre Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. Akund fibre Cannabis sativa L. Hemp fibre Caryota urens L. Kittul fibre, Salopa Ceiba pentendra (L.) Gaertn. Kapok fibre Cocos nucifera L. Coconut fibre, Coir Corchorus capsularis L. Jute butts, Narcha Corchorus olitorius L. Tossa jute, Daisee, Jew's mallow Corypha utan Lam. Buri raffia fibre, Buntal fibre Crotalaria juncea L. Sunn, Sannhemp Daphne papyracea Wall. Ex Steud. Nepal paper Furcraea gigantea Vent. Mauritius hemp Furcraea hexapetala Urban hemp Furcraea humboldtiana Trel. Cocuiza fibre Furcraea macrophylla Baker fibre Gossypium arboreum L. Cotton, Oriental cotton, Old world cotton L. Sea Island cotton, Egyptian cotton, Brazilian cotton, Peruvian cotton, Kidney cotton Gossypium herbaceum L. Levant cotton Gossypium hirsutum L. American cotton, Bourbon cotton, Upland cotton Hibiscus cannabinus L. Mesta, Kenaf, Roselle Linum usitatissimum L. Flax Maoutia puya Wedd. Puya, Nepal hemp Musa textilis Nees Manila hemp Oreocnide integrifolia Miq. Risa fibre, Ban rhea Phormium tenax Forst. New Zealand flax, New Zealand hemp Raphia farinifera Hylander Raffia fibre, West African piassava, Lagos Bass Raphia hookeri Mann & Wendl. Piassava Sabal palmetto Lodd. ex Roem. & Schult. Palmetto fibre Sansevieria roxburghiana L. Indian bowstring hemp, Murva fibre Urena lobata L. Aramina fibre, Congo jute

204 Natural Product Radiance Vol 2(4) July-August 2003

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