ABSTRACT
A large n u m b er of p lan ts are rep o rted to y ield fibres, b u t o n ly a few are of com m erc ial im p o rtan ce . M ost of th e fib re y ie ld in g p lan ts b e lo n g to th e fam ilies M alvaceae , T iliaceae a n d S tercu liaceae in th e o rd e r M ai vales. B esides th ese , som e o th e r fam ilies a re a lso fib re y ie ld in g , e.g. P ap ilio n aceae , L inaceae, U rticaceae , A m ary llid aceae a n d so on. O n th e b as is o f o rig in , th e fib res m ay b e g ro u p e d in to th ree ca tego ries (M aiti, 1980):
(a) Bast fibres - o b ta in ed from th e b a s t o r th e b a rk of stem , e.g. ju te , m esta , roselle, su n h em p , ram ie an d flax.
