Indus Tree Crafts Foundation
Banana
|
Common name |
Local names |
Botanical name |
Available region in India |
|
Banana |
Khela (Hindi) Baale (Kannada) Arati (Telugu) Vale (Tamil) Vazha (Malayalam) |
Mu'sa paradisiaca |
Largely in South India |
Banana belongs to the Musa family. This plant is usually referred to as a tree but is actually a giant herb, whose trunk or stem is composed of overlapping leaf bases which sheath it. Each stem fruits only once, being replaced by new suckers which in turn flower, fruit and die. It is a tropical plant which grows in sheltered position. They are identified by large paddle shaped leaves with a thick midrib. Due to its length and the character to eventually droop, the edges of the leaves tend to fray.
Banana is mainly cultivated for its seedless fruit, which can be eaten raw as well as ripe. The flowers of the plant are also edible. The young plant along with the leaves have an auspicious value in the Indian culture. Banana leaf has a special utility in the southern part of India, where it is used as a plate for eating.
In Banana, two kinds of fibres we can use:
1. Banana bark fibre (the layers of the banana stem)
2. Banana pith fibre (the fibre extracted from the bark)
Banana bark fibre
Step by step procedure to make banana yarn
From top (clock wise)
1. Artisan removing pith from the banana bark after wetting the banana bark for 5-10 mins.
2. Banana bark after removing the pith
3. It will be spliced in even sizes and the artisan making rope by hand.
4. The hand made banana yarn.
Some of the banana bark product pictures:
Banana pith fibre - Extraction
Step by step procedure of extraction of banana pith fibre
From top (clock wise)
1. Machine, which is used to extract the fibre
2. Artisan inserting banana stem (layer of banana stem) in the machine
3. Closer picture of the inserting the banana stem
4. The Banana pith fibre from the machine
Banana pith fibre kept for drying
Some of the banana bark product pictures:
for trade enquiries please visit Indus Tree Crafts Pvt. Ltd.
Different plant pictures and click on the picture to see detailed information on that fibre
Banana
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