Stipa tenacissima
Stipa tenacissima (esparto, esparto grass, halfah grass or needles grass) is a perennial grass of northwestern Africa and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
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| Species: | S. tenacissima |
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| Stipa tenacissima L. | |
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Macrochloa tenacissima (L.) Kunth. | |
Distribution
Stipa tenacissima is an endemic species of the Western Mediterranean countries. It grows in Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. It grows in poor soils and in dry conditions, forming a steppe-like grassland. It has been managed by people for centuries.
Uses
Stipa tenacissima produces a fiber product called esparto which is used for crafts, such as cords, basketry, and espadrilles as well as for making paper.
See also
- Lygeum spartum, another species of grass also used as esparto
External links
- Stipa tenacissima spanish information
- European influence and tribal society in Tunisia during the nineteenth century: the origins and impact of the trade in esparto grass 1870-1940. (1995) by Gavin McQuarrie, University of Durham, England
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