<P> Abacá ( / ɑː bəˈkɑː / ah - bə - KAH ; Filipino : Abaka ( ɐbɐˈka ) ) , binomial name Musa textilis , is a species of banana native to the Philippines , grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines , Ecuador , and Costa Rica . The plant , also known as Manila hemp , has great economic importance , being harvested for its fiber , also called Manila hemp , extracted from the leaf - stems . The plant grows to 13 -- 22 feet ( 4.0 -- 6.7 m ) , and averages about 12 feet ( 3.7 m ) . The fiber was originally used for making twines and ropes ; now most is pulped and used in a variety of specialized paper products including tea bags , filter paper and banknotes . It is classified as a hard fiber , along with coir , henequin and sisal . </P>
<P> Abacá ( / ɑː bəˈkɑː / ah - bə - KAH ; Filipino : Abaka ( ɐbɐˈka ) ) , binomial name Musa textilis , is a species of banana native to the Philippines , grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines , Ecuador , and Costa Rica . The plant , also known as Manila hemp , has great economic importance , being harvested for its fiber , also called Manila hemp , extracted from the leaf - stems . The plant grows to 13 -- 22 feet ( 4.0 -- 6.7 m ) , and averages about 12 feet ( 3.7 m ) . The fiber was originally used for making twines and ropes ; now most is pulped and used in a variety of specialized paper products including tea bags , filter paper and banknotes . It is classified as a hard fiber , along with coir , henequin and sisal . </P>
manila is a fiber extracted from the leaves of
manila is a fiber extracted from the leaves of
Abacá ( / ɑː bəˈkɑː / ah - bə - KAH ; Filipino : Abaka ( ɐbɐˈka ) ) , binomial name Musa textilis
Abacá ( / ɑː bəˈkɑː / ah - bə - KAH ; Filipino : Abaka ( ɐbɐˈka ) ) , binomial name Musa textilis