Ramie

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) is a flowering plant in the nettle family Urticaceae, native to eastern Asia. It is a herbaceous perennial growing to 1–2.5 m tall.

Ramie
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Urticaceae
Genus: Boehmeria
Species:
B. nivea
Binomial name
Boehmeria nivea
(L.) Gaudich.

Ramie is one of the oldest fibre crops, used for at least six thousand years. It is mainly used for fabric production. Ramie is normally harvested two to three times a year but under good growing conditions can be harvested up to six times per year.[1] Unlike other fibre crops, ramie needs chemical processing to de-gum the fibre.

Producers

China leads in the production of ramie and exports mainly to Japan and Europe. Other producers include Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Brazil.[2] Only a small percentage of the ramie produced is available on the international market. Japan, Germany, France and the UK are the main importers, the remaining supply is used domestically.[1]

References
  1. Beda Ricklin Swicofil AG Textile Services. "Swicofil". Swicofil. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
  2. "Britannica Online". Britannica.com. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
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