abaka

abaca

Abacá is a banana relative grown for its strong, long fibers. It spreads through ground‑level runners, has a thick pseudostem made of leaf sheaths, and produces 12–25 large leaves. Mature plants form a flower stalk inside the stem, and harvested leaf sheaths yield 6–12‑foot fibers used for textiles and specialty papers. The fruit is small and inedible, usually unseen because plants are harvested before fruiting