Manila
Manila, or Manila Hemp, a commercial fiber obtained from the abaca plant. Manila is used for rope, marine cable, twine, and coarse cloth. The fiber, which may be more than 12 feet (3.7 m) in length, is white to yellowish. It is extremely strong and tough, and is resistant to saltwater.
The abaca grows chiefly in the Philippines and Central America. It consists of a clump of leafstalks up to 30 feet (9 m) high, each bearing leaves up to 6 feet (1.8 m) long and a drooping flower spike. The banana-shaped, inedible fruit contains many black seeds. The fiber is obtained by cutting the leafstalks, splitting them lengthwise, and removing the strands. The fiber is then washed, dried, and bundled.
The abaca is Musa textilis of the banana family. Musaceae.