Where does raffia come from?
Different species of raffia palm can be found around the world in parts of South East Asia, South and Central America, with the very best flourishing in the coastal valleys of Madagascar. Raffia harvesting is considered a sustainable practice, which means that the plant is not harmed during the process and can continue to grow and produce.
What are raffia palms?
Raffia palms (Raphia) are a genus of about twenty species of palms native to tropical regions of Africa, and especially Madagascar, with one species (R. taedigera) also occurring in Central and South America.
What is raffia fiber?
The raffia fiber is obtained from the raffia (raphia) palm tree, which grows in tropical regions and in wet soil in Madagascar, Africa and the Philippines.
What is raffia used for in Nigeria?
In local construction, raffia fibres are used for ropes, with branches and leaves providing sticks and supporting beams, and various roof coverings. The people of Ogba kingdom in Rivers State and other southern Nigerians use raffia palm fronds as fishing poles. The frond is usually cut from a young palm tree.
What is the source of raffia?
The raffia fiber is obtained from the raffia (raphia) palm tree, which grows in tropical regions and in wet soil in Madagascar, Africa and the Philippines. The raffia palm (Raphia farinifera) is made of long leaves that can attain 60ft (18m), which makes it the palm tree with the largest branches.
What tree is raffia?
Raffia palms (Raphia) are a genus of about twenty species of palms native to tropical regions of Africa, and especially Madagascar, with one species (R. taedigera) also occurring in Central and South America. R.
Where is raffia found?
MadagascarRaffia comes from the segments of the leaves on the Raphia Farinifera palm (commonly known as Raffia Palm). Different species of raffia palm can be found around the world in parts of South East Asia, South and Central America, with the very best flourishing in the coastal valleys of Madagascar.
What is raffia grass made of?
What is Raffia Grass and How Does it Work? Raffia is real grass from African Trees, in strands between 3 and 5 feet long (perfect for blinds). Raffia is as strong as bamboo but as pliable as regular grass, making it incredible easy to maneuver and tie to blinds but nearly impossible to rip.
How do you harvest raffia?
The harvest: normally only the young shoots of the leaves of the palm tree are collected. Once harvested, the leaves are split in half and then scraped back and forth. This allows the fibres to be extracted, which are then washed in cold water. The fibres are then tied to dry in the sun to obtain the raffia thread.
Is raffia palm tree?
Photo: João Marcos Rosa/Nitro. Of imposing size, the raffia palm has a solitary stem and the biggest leaves among palm trees, reaching up to 20 meters long. Its set of flowers blooms when the plant reaches 20 to 30 years old.
Is straw and raffia the same?
It is not uncommon for raffia to be confused with straw. Although both are natural fibres, they are very different in their origin and attributes.
Is raffia environmentally friendly?
If you're looking for a durable and eco-friendly clothing, decor, or gift wrap option, raffia is one of the best. In general, raffia is very sustainable and does little harm to the environment as long as it is all natural.
Is raffia edible?
It can be eaten once boiled. The fruit also sources edible oil and edible seeds. Sap obtained from the trunk can be made into palm wine and sweet beverages. The stem, on the other hand, yield an edible starch.
Is Seagrass the same as raffia?
Seagrass is a woven material that makes for an exciting and unique furniture finish. Unlike the Raffia wraps, which are tightly woven from fine strands of fiber, seagrass is woven from bundles of wide grasses and the result is highly textured.
Is raffia a natural material?
The raffia fibre is a natural fibre. It has similar properties like jute, bamboo and hemp fibres. The raffia fibre is obtained by peeling of raffia palm leaves. The raffia fibre is soft, pliable, strong, durable, easy to dye and biodegradable making it an excellent material for weaving baskets, hats, mats and rugs.
What is an African palm tree called?
African oil palmElaeis guineensisAfrican oil palmFamily:ArecaceaeGenus:ElaeisSpecies:E. guineensisBinomial name14 more rows
Is raffia a straw?
It is not uncommon for raffia to be confused with straw. Although both are natural fibres, they are very different in their origin and attributes.
What is the description of raffia?
Raffia is a fibre made from palm leaves. It is used to make mats and baskets. Some embroidered tablecloths or made raffia mats.
Is raffia a natural material?
The raffia fibre is a natural fibre. It has similar properties like jute, bamboo and hemp fibres. The raffia fibre is obtained by peeling of raffia palm leaves. The raffia fibre is soft, pliable, strong, durable, easy to dye and biodegradable making it an excellent material for weaving baskets, hats, mats and rugs.
Where does the rafia tree come from?
raf·fi·a / ˈrafēə / • n. a palm tree (Raphia ruffia) native to tropical Africa and Madagascar, with a short trunk and leaves that may be up to 60 feet (18 m) long. ∎ the fiber from these leaves, used for making items such as hats, baskets, and mats.
What is a raffia?
raffia (bast, bass) A fibrous tissue from the upper sides of young leaflets of the palm Raphia vinifera that is used for tying plants and to make hats, mats, ect. See RAPHIA.
How long are the leaves on a raffia tree?
Yep, on a palm tree, the 'leaf' is actually what many of us might look at and call a 'whole branch' - so the leaves on the raffia palm are typically 10 metres long or more, and the segments are dried and shredded 'leafy bits' becoming the raffia fibre we use. These vary in length depending on their position on the leaf.
How to tell if raffia is hard?
Take a strand of raffia. Where the segments were once attached to the petiole (the branchy bit of the tree), you should notice towards one end of the raffia is thinner and harder and the end might have a little hairy bit. See how this end is different to the other end, which was possibly cut? This harder, thin part towards the end will fold over easily and make a hard point. Like this, below:
Can you use raffia in basketry?
If you're using it for giftwrapping, you won't care about any of this. If you're interested in using raffia in basketry, all these properties will be something to notice, eventually. If you need to keep feeding raffia into the core of your basket, or woven vessel, you could really go about it however you want.
Do you tie raffia leaves in bundles?
When you buy smaller lots, generally they will still be tied in a bundle at one end but it won't be this tidy. The raffia leaves bundled this way in Madagascar are done so when they're still a bit wet to achieve the excellent compaction you get in a hank. As you'd know, if you've ever just opened up one kilogram of raffia to have it amazingly and instantly take over the interior volume of your home.
Does dyeing raffia weaken it?
A note on dyed raffia. If you're staring at a strand of dyed raffia and wondering what on earth I'm on about, that's also a point of interest! It is my general opinion that any kind of dyeing raffia weakens it. If you're using natural raffia, after a while you'll notice your hands get a super grip, and feel a bit waxy.
Is raffia good for basketry?
Understanding a little about the raffia plant and fibre has a few benefits: You'll get better use from your raffia stash. Understand how the structure of the fibre s can help in basketry. It may even make your work stronger, more solid and improve overall structural integrity. Alright!
What color is raffia?
Collectors go deep into the island to harvest the raffia palm.They strip and dry the freshly cut pale green strand and sun dry them.The dried raffia fibers then turn beige in color to yield the natural colored raffia we all know.
What is raffia used for?
The raffia fiber is soft, pliable, strong, durable, easy to dye and biodegradable making it an excellent material for weaving baskets, hats, mats and rugs.
How many leaves does a raffia palm have?
The raffia palm (Raphia farinifera) is made of long leaves that can attain 60ft (18m), which makes it the palm tree with the largest branches.Each palm branch is made of nearly 100 leaflets, which are cut and torn off in parallel lines yielding long continuous fiber of a pale green color.
Where does raffia come from?
Natural raffia (sometimes called paper raffia) is a material that is harvested from the leaves of palm trees . The palm trees that are used to make raffia were first found on the island of Madagascar, but they now grow in other parts of Africa as well as some areas of Asia and Central America.
How Is Raffia Made?
In order to better understand the sustainability of raffia, it’s important to first look at how raffia is made.
Is Raffia Biodegradable?
Biodegradability means that a material can be decomposed by bacteria or other natural processes.
Is Raffia Compostable?
As is the case with biodegradability, natural raffia is compostable. Composting is essentially the human-controlled version of biodegradation.
Can Raffia Be Recycled?
However, synthetic raffia made from polypropylene can potentially be recycled too depending on the recycling facility it is taken to.
Is Raffia Organic?
Synthetic raffia is not organic. Whether or not natural raffia is organic ultimately depends on where and how it is grown.
What is raffia used for?
For home decor, raffia is used to make baskets, table decorations and table skirts, and ribbons and ropes used to tie around vases. Although the raffia leaves are typically used in home decor, even the branches and stems of the palm tree can be used to make furniture.
