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Glite Dictionary
🌿 A New Zealand plant 🧵 A strong fiber
phormium

phormium

9.9
A strong fiber from the plant's long leaves used for rope and baskets
  • noun
  • /ˈfɔrmiəm/
  • New Zealand
translation icon : fibra de phormio
  • Traditional ropes made from phormium are valued for their durability and strength.

Examples

  • The phormium fibers are incredibly strong.

  • She learned how to extract phormium fibers from the plant leaves for textile making.

  • The villagers used phormium to weave strong baskets for carrying food.

  • Many artisans use phormium to create beautiful baskets.

  • The fibers from phormium are often used to make durable ropes.

  • The weavers used phormium to create beautiful traditional baskets.

  • Rope made from phormium is known for its resilience and longevity.

Synonyms

flax
vsphormium
2 4.4

A strong fiber from a plant grown to make linen cloth

is used more for ropes and baskets than for fine linen fabric
Furcraea
vsphormium
  • Specialized
9.9

A strong natural fiber from the long leaves of Furcraea plants used to make rope and rough cloth

comes from a different plant genus rather than the same one
bast fiber
vsphormium
  • Specialized
8.8

A strong plant fiber from the inner stem used to make rope or cloth

is made from leaf tissue rather than from the plant's phloem
plant fiber
vsphormium
  • US
3.5

Long thin parts of plants used to make cloth, rope and to help the body use food when eaten

is a specific strong leaf fiber used for rope, baskets, and coarse textiles

Surface Forms

phormium singular
phormiums plural

Etymology

Phormium (the fiber) takes its name from the same old word phormion meaning 'basket', since the tough leaf fibers were stripped and woven into rope, baskets, and cloth. So phormium means the strong fibres from the plant that are good for weaving and rope.