Henequen (Agave fourcroydes)
Also known as: Yucatán sisal, Mexican agave fibre
Leaf fibre of Agave fourcroydes from the Yucatán peninsula — coarser than sisal, traditionally used for ropes, sacks and rustic bags.
Description
Henequen is the leaf fibre of the agave Agave fourcroydes, native to Mexico's Yucatán peninsula and cultivated there by the Maya since pre-Hispanic times. Between 1875 and 1915 henequen was Mexico's most important export as "green gold", supplying binder twine for the North American grain harvest.
The fibres are obtained by decortication of the up to two-metre-long leaves. They are yellowish-brown, coarser and less flexible than those of the related Agave sisalana. Classic uses are binder twines, brushes, doormats, sisal substitute, hand-woven bags and hammocks. Today henequen is also used as feedstock for bio-composites in the automotive industry.
- Coarse hard fibre from agave leaves
- Yucatán still the main growing region
- Classic for ropes, binder twine, mats and hammocks
- Related to sisal but coarser and darker
Properties
| Fibre type | Natural fibre (plant-based, leaf/hard fibre) |
|---|---|
| Origin | Yucatán (Mexico), Cuba, El Salvador |
| Application | Binder twine, ropes, mats, bags, bio-composites |
| Colour | Yellowish to reddish brown |
Related product categories
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: Sisal (mit Henequen) Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sisal
