{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Abaca
| status = secure
| image = Musa textilis - Manila Hemp - desc-flower.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Zingiberales]]
| familia = [[Musaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Musa (Musaceae)|Musa]]''
| species = '''''M. textilis'''''
| binomial = ''Musa textilis''
| binomial_authority = [[Luis Née|Née]]
}}

'''Abacá''', from Spanish "abacá" ({{pronounced|ɑbəˈkɑ]}} ''"ah buh KAH"''), or ''Musa textilis,'' is a species of [[banana]] native to the [[Philippines]], grown widely as well in [[Borneo]] and [[Sumatra]]. It is sometimes referred to as "BacBac". The plant is of great economic importance, being harvested for its fibre, called [[Manila hemp]], extracted from the large, oblong [[leaf|leaves]] and stems. On average, the plant grows about 20 feet (6 meters) tall. The fibre is used for making twines and ropes. The plant's name is sometimes spelt '''Abaká'''. It was first cultivated on a large scale in [[Sumatra]] in 1925 under the [[Dutch Empire|Dutch]], who had observed its cultivation in the Philippines for [[cordage]] since the 1800s, followed up by plantings in [[Central America]] sponsored by the [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]]<ref name="eb">[http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9003214 "abaca."] ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. 22 January 2007</ref>. Commercial planting began in 1930 in [[British North Borneo]]; with the commencement of WWII, the supply from the Philippines was eliminated by the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]]<ref name="eb"/>.

Other common names for Manila hemp include "Cebu hemp" and "Davao hemp".

==Composition==
The leaves grow from the trunk of the plant, and the bases of the leaves form a [[sheath|''sheath'']] (covering) around the trunk; there are approximately 25 of these, with 5 cm in diameter and from 12 to 25 leaves with overlapping [[petioles]], covering the stalk to form a [[shrub]], "false trunk" or pseudotrunk about 30 to 40 cm in diameter<ref name="eb"/>. They grow in succession, with the oldest growing from the bottom of the trunk and successively younger ones from the top. The sheaths contain the valuable fibre. The coarse fibres range from 5 to 11½ feet (1.5 to 3.5 metres) in length. They are composed primarily of the plant materials such as [[cellulose]], [[lignin]], and [[pectin]]. After the fibre has been separated, it is sold under the name [[Manila hemp|Manila]], the capital of the [[Philippines]].

==Harvesting==
[[Image:Abaca plant.jpg|thumb|left|Bananera, Guatemalan worker trims leaves from abacá plant.]]

The plant is normally grown in well-drained loamy soil, using pieces of mature root planted at the start of the rainy season<ref name="eb"/>. Growers harvest abacá fields every three to eight months after an initial growth period of 18-25 months and a total lifespan of about 10 years<ref name="eb"/>. Harvest generally includes having several operations concerning the leaf sheaths:
* tuxying (separation of primary and secondary sheath)
* stripping (getting the fibers)
* drying (usually following tradition of sun-drying).

The fibers can then be spun into twines or cordage.

== Applications ==
Abacá rope is very durable, flexible and resistant to [[salt water damage]], allowing its use in rope, hawsers, ship's lines and [[fishing net]]s<ref name="eb"/> . It can be used to make handcrafts like bags, carpets, clothing and furniture. The fibers can be pulped and processed into specialty paper used in tea bags, vacuum bags, currency, and more. Lupis is the finest quality of abacá. Sinamay is woven chiefly from abaca.<ref>"lupis", "sinamay" in Merriam-Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, third edition</ref>

==Scientific classification==
The abacá plant belongs to the [[banana]] family, [[Musaceae]]; it resembles its closely related cousin plant, the ''[[Musa sapientum]]''. Its scientific name is ''Musa textilis''.

==References==
{{reflist}}
*The [[World Book]] encyclopedia set, 1988.

==External links==
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Abaca}}
* [http://www.univie.ac.at/Voelkerkunde/apsis/aufi/aurel/novara/nov1319.htm Historical notes]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=MUTE6 Plants USDA]
* [http://www.filipiniana.net/read_content.jsp?filename=BKJ000000001&page=1&epage=15 Abaca] A comprehensive pamphlet about Philippine abaca presented 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco. Online publication uploaded in [http://filipiniana.net Filipiniana.net]

[[Category:Zingiberales]]
[[Category:Flora of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Tagalog words and phrases]]

[[bn:অ্যাবাকা]]
[[bg:Абака]]
[[ca:Abacà]]
[[cs:Banánovník textilní]]
[[da:Abaca]]
[[de:Faserbanane]]
[[et:Kanepbanaan]]
[[es:Musa textilis o Abacá]]
[[fr:Abaca]]
[[gl:Abacá]]
[[id:Pisang abaka]]
[[it:Musa textilis]]
[[lt:Pluoštinis bananas]]
[[nl:Abaca]]
[[ja:マニラアサ]]
[[pl:Banan manilski]]
[[pt:Abacá]]
[[ru:Абака (растение)]]
[[fi:Manilla]]
[[sv:Abacá]]
[[tl:Abaka (halaman)]]
[[zh:馬尼拉麻蕉]]