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Snake Plant fibres

A soft, silky and elastic fibre is obtained from the leaves of the Sansevieria plant.

Sansevieria (snake plant, bow string hemp etc.) is a genus of about 70 species of flowering plants, native to Africa, Madagascar and southern Asia.

A soft, silky and elastic fibre is obtained from the leaves. Yields of up to 2.25 tonnes per hectare per year have been recorded.

Uses

  • string
  • bowstrings for hunting
  • thread for clothes
  • nets
  • mats
  • fine paper
  • Sansevieria ehrenbergii has sap used as antiseptic and the leaves are used for bandages in traditional first aid.

Potential Uses

  • Fibre for composites
  • Warning, unknown if this is safe: Surgical suture? (as may breakdown naturally)
  • Contains saponins: could be used for soap?

Processes

  • [Overview; need not be detailed.]

More Information

  • Wikipedia
  • Plants For A Future entry
  • Book: Useful Fiber Plants of the World – Dodge C.R., 1897
  • Ecocrop Data Sheet for Sansevieria guineensis
  • Common names: English: bowstring hemp; iguanatail; mother-in-law’s tongue; snake plant. Spanish: lengua de suegra; lengua de vaca. Local Common Names: Dominican Republic: Espada de Santa Elena; Espada de Santa Teresa; Hoja de Santa Elena. Haiti: oreilles d’ane; safran; z’oreilles bourrique. Lesser Antilles: bowstring; karata; langue a chat; lash; sanddragon de cermitiere; z’oreille a bourrique. Mozambique: tchikwenga. Puerto Rico: chucho; cocuisa; lengua de chuco; sansiviera. Saint Lucia: lanng bèlmè; mother-in-law’s-tongue.

Calluna Heather

Calluna vulgaris (common heather, ling), a perennial shrub found widely in Europe and Asia Minor, has been used for dying wool, tanning leather and making brooms.

Calluna vulgaris (known as common heather, ling, or simply heather) is a low-growing perennial shrub growing to 20 cm to 1 metre, found widely in Europe and Asia Minor on acidic soils in open sunny situations and in moderate shade. It is the dominant plant in most heathland and moorland in Europe, and in some bog vegetation and acidic pine and oak woodland. It is tolerant of grazing and regenerates following occasional burning, and is often managed in nature reserves and grouse moors by sheep or cattle grazing, and also by light burning.

Uses

Besom Broom
Besom Broom
  • Dying wool yellow
  • Tanning leather
  • ‘Besoms’ (traditional brooms)
  • With malt, heather is an ingredient in gruit, a mixture of flavourings used in the brewing of heather-beer during the Middle Ages before the use of hops.
  • In traditional Austrian medicine as tea for disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract.

Potential Uses

  • [Research, Exploratory/student projects, Ideas…]

Processes

  • [Overview; need not be detailed.]

More Information

  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calluna