Musa textilis

9.8

A banana plant from the Philippines with strong leaf stalks used to make rope and paper

noun

Specialized

: Musa textilis

The fiber extracted from Musa textilis plants is commonly referred to as Manila hemp.

Examples

Ropes made from Musa textilis are valued for their resistance to saltwater.
Many farmers in the Philippines cultivate Musa textilis for its strong, durable fibers.
The Musa textilis plant is vital for the local economy.
Farmers grow Musa textilis for its valuable fibers.
Many farmers in the Philippines cultivate Musa textilis for its strong, durable fibers.
Ropes made from Musa textilis are valued for their resistance to saltwater.
The fiber extracted from Musa textilis plants is commonly referred to as Manila hemp.

Synonyms

abaca

vsMusa textilis

Philippine

9.9

A Philippine banana plant whose leaf stalks give fiber for ropes and paper

has the same meaning but is the scientific species name

Manila hemp

vsMusa textilis

7.0

A tall plant from the Philippines whose leaf stalks give strong fiber for rope, paper, and textiles

is the scientific species name rather than the common plant or fiber name

Surface Forms

Musa textilis singular

Musa textilises plural

Morphology

Musa + textilis

The first element 'Musa' clearly signals the banana/plant genus and the second element 'textilis' is transparently related to 'textile'/'woven', so a learner who knows both parts could infer this is a Musa used for fiber/textiles. However, species binomials are technical Latin labels and the precise meaning (Manila hemp, use for rope and paper) is specialized and not fully predictable for a B1 learner, so the transparency is partial.

Etymology

Musa textilis is the scientific name for a Philippine banana whose thick stems give a strong fiber called 'Manila hemp'. The part Musa is the banana and textilis points to 'cloth', so the name helps you remember that this plant makes strong material for 'rope' and 'paper'.