204 MISCELLANEOUS FIBRES 



PlASSAVA 



Piassava is the name applied in commerce to the 

 long, stiff, elastic strands, usually about 2 or 3 feet 

 long, and ^ in. to T V in. in diameter, which are 

 produced by certain palms, and are used extensively 

 for the manufacture of brooms and brushes. The 

 product is derived from the sheathing leaf-bases which 

 clasp the trunk of the palm-tree. After the leaves 

 have fallen, a portion of the dilated leaf-stalk remains 

 attached to the stem ; the softer parts of this structure 

 gradually suffer deca}' until finally there remain 

 numerous coarse strands composed of the sclerenchy- 

 matous tissue of the fibre-vascular bundles. These 

 are at first directed upwards from the trunk, but sub- 

 sequently bend downwards and give the tree a 

 peculiar, characteristic appearance. The piassava 

 consists of these elastic, wiry filaments which vary in 

 colour from brownish red to dark purplish. The 

 following are the chief commercial varieties . 



Bahia Piassava. This fibre is derived from Attalea 

 funifera, a palm which grows in the forests of Bahia, 

 Brazil, to a height of 30-40 feet. The natives cut the 

 long stiff strands from the stem by means of a small 

 axe. The best fibre is obtained from young trees, 

 about six to nine years old. The product is roughly 

 hackled, straightened and cleaned, and pressed into 

 bundles for export. Bahia piassava is chocolate- 

 coloured, a little flattened in form, flexible and very 

 resistant. It is largely used for the brushes of road- 

 sweeping machines. 



Para Piassava. This variety is obtained from 

 Leopoldinia Piassaba, a palm growing to a height of 

 15-40 feet, and occurring abundantly in the White 

 River region and certain other parts of Brazil. The 

 fibre is obtained much in the same way as the Bahia 

 kind. It is strong and black, and is used for making 

 strong brushes such as are used for grooming horses. 

 This product forms only a small proportion of the 

 piassava of commerce. 



Madagascar Piassava. This product is derived from 

 Dictyosperma fibrosum, a palm known in the island 

 of Madagascar as " Vonitra." The fibre was intro- 



