Piassava

The Piassava ( Piassave, Para grass, monkey grass ) is a strong, highly durable plant fiber that is brought from Brazil and Venezuela to Europe and from the knitting palm, Attalea funifera ( Mart. ) originates. The Piassava consists of the tough fibers of the leaf sheaths, which hang down freely through the atmosphere on the trunks of palm called after destruction of the remaining tissue parts of these structures. These fibers are whalebone -like elastic, dull, dark brown, almost always flattened, up to a meter long, and rarely about 0.8-2.5 mm thick. In the countries of origin is made ​​out of Piassava mats, ropes and cables. After England, the fiber came first in 1845 as a packaging material and was initially unusable. 40 years later, the processed fiber in large quantities to almost indestructible broom ( Piassavabesen ), street sweepers, coarse brushes, etc. The fiber was shipped mainly from Bahia. About 1884 annually 2,000 tons were imported, of which about 50 tonnes came to Germany, 15 to 18 gold marks per quintal cost.