Esparto
Encyclopedia
Esparto, or esparto grass, also known as "halfah (alpha/alfa) grass" or "needle grass", Macrochloa tenacissima and Stipa tenacissima, is a perennial grass
grown in northwest Africa
and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula
employed for crafts (cord
s, basket
s, espadrilles
, etc.).
production for paper
making. The fiber makes a high quality paper often used in book
manufacturing. First used in Great Britain
in 1850, it has been extensively used there and in Europe
, but is rarely found in the United States
because of the cost of transport. It is usually combined with five to ten percent wood pulp
.
The "Spanish" grade is usually regarded as the higher-quality, while the "Tripoli" grade, from Africa, is the lesser in quality. The fibers are fairly short in relation to their width, yet do not create any significant amount of dust. Because of the short fiber length, the tensile strength of the paper is less than that of many other papers, but its resistance to shrinkage and stretching is superior, and the paper is a well-filled, dense paper with excellent inking qualities. It also has very good folding properties.
Lygeum
spartum, another species of grass, is also used in combination with true esparto, and is also sometimes called "esparto grass" or albardine.
Some manufacturers of rolling paper may use esparto, which might lead to a slightly higher carcinogen level when burned. http://www.amat.es/convenio/circulares/2003/DICIEMBRE/CIRCULAR%20N%C2%BA%20114-03/Circular%20n%C2%BA%20114-03.pdf.
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
grown in northwest Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
employed for crafts (cord
Cord
Cord may refer to:* String or rope* Cord , a trimming made of multiple strands of yarn twisted together* The spinal cord* Cord Automobile, a former American car marque founded by Errett Lobban Cord* The cord , used to measure firewood...
s, basket
Basket
A basket is a container which is traditionally constructed from stiff fibres, which can be made from a range of materials, including wood splints, runners, and cane. While most baskets are made from plant materials, other materials such as horsehair, baleen, or metal wire can be used. Baskets are...
s, espadrilles
Espadrilles
Espadrilles are normally casual flat, but sometimes high heeled shoes originating from the Pyrenees. They usually have a canvas or cotton fabric upper and a flexible sole made of rope or rubber material moulded to look like rope. The jute rope sole is the defining characteristic of an espadrille;...
, etc.).
Esparto paper
It is also used for fiberFiber
Fiber is a class of materials that are continuous filaments or are in discrete elongated pieces, similar to lengths of thread.They are very important in the biology of both plants and animals, for holding tissues together....
production for paper
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
making. The fiber makes a high quality paper often used in book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
manufacturing. First used in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in 1850, it has been extensively used there and in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, but is rarely found in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
because of the cost of transport. It is usually combined with five to ten percent wood pulp
Wood pulp
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
.
The "Spanish" grade is usually regarded as the higher-quality, while the "Tripoli" grade, from Africa, is the lesser in quality. The fibers are fairly short in relation to their width, yet do not create any significant amount of dust. Because of the short fiber length, the tensile strength of the paper is less than that of many other papers, but its resistance to shrinkage and stretching is superior, and the paper is a well-filled, dense paper with excellent inking qualities. It also has very good folding properties.
Lygeum
Lygeum
Lygeum is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.-External links:*...
spartum, another species of grass, is also used in combination with true esparto, and is also sometimes called "esparto grass" or albardine.
Some manufacturers of rolling paper may use esparto, which might lead to a slightly higher carcinogen level when burned. http://www.amat.es/convenio/circulares/2003/DICIEMBRE/CIRCULAR%20N%C2%BA%20114-03/Circular%20n%C2%BA%20114-03.pdf.
Related terms
- EspartinasEspartinasEspartinas is a city located in the province of Seville, Spain. According to the 2006 census , the city has a population of 9177 inhabitants. It is twinned with Clackmannanshire in Scotland.-External links:...
, a town in the province of Seville, Spain - The family name Espartero means "esparto worker or seller".
- Atocha is another Spanish word for "esparto".
External links