Ramie

Ramie

[Ramie Boehmeria nivea] Often called China grass or white ramie

Family
Urticaceae, nettle family

Height
Up to 2,5 meter.

Location and climate
Asia, South America and Africa

Pollination
Wind

Ramie is a bast fiber extracted from the stem of the plant (inner spinal layer). Ramie is a very old fiber drop and is like the flax fiber dated back to Egypt where the fairer has been found on mummies.

Ramie is harvested 2-3 times a year and do not require pesticides when cultivated. Unlike other bast crops, ramie requires chemical processing to de-gum the fiber.

Usage
Primarily for paper (shorter fiber or waste product), packaging material, canvas, and textile. Ramie is also used as reinforcement in concrete and other composite materials. The leaves from the ramie plant are used in the Asian kitchen.

The cellulose from the ramie plant is used for bio plastics.