Which Malvales plants are sources of jute fiber?
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Malvales
A fony baobab tree (Adansonia rubrostipa), estimated to be more than 1,000 years old, in Madagascar.
Jute fiber is obtained from two specific species of plants within the genus Corchorus, which belongs to the Malvaceae family within the order Malvales:
- Corchorus capsularis: Also known as white jute, this species is a primary source of the fiber.12
- Corchorus olitorius: This species, which includes both tossa and daisee varieties, also serves as a major source of jute fiber.12
These plants are herbaceous annuals that produce bast fiber located in the inner tissue of the stem's bark. The fibers are extracted through a process called retting, where the stems are submerged in water to allow bacterial action to break down the gummy tissues holding the fibers together.1