Content
Chinese nettle (Boehmeria nivea), or white ramie, is a well-known perennial of the nettle family. In its natural habitat, the plant grows in Asian countries.
People have long appreciated the strength of white ramie fibers, so from the 4th century BC. e. Chinese nettle was widely used for twisting ropes
Botanical description of the plant
White ramie (Asian nettle) has an external resemblance to the stinging nettle familiar to most Europeans. The perennial subshrub is distinguished by its larger size and the following external characteristics:
- powerful root system;
- stems are erect, smooth, tree-like, pubescent, but not burning;
- stem length from 0.9 m to 2 m;
- leaves are alternate and opposite, pubescent on the underside (a detailed difference from green ramie, Indian nettle);
- the shape of the leaves is round, teardrop-shaped, with marginal teeth, with free stipules, on long petioles;
- leaf length up to 10 cm;
- the color of the upper part of the leaves is dark green;
- the color of the lower part of the leaves is white, pubescent;
- inflorescences are spike-shaped, paniculate or racemose;
- flowers are monoecious, unisexual (female and male), small in size;
- male flowers with a 3-5-lobed perianth, with 3-5 stamens collected in a ball;
- female flowers with a tubular 2-4 toothed perianth, spherical or club-shaped pistil;
- The fruit is an achene with small seeds.
During flowering, male flowers are concentrated at the bottom of the inflorescences, and female flowers at the top of the shoot.
Interestingly, the bast fibers are located in the stem bark in the form of numerous bundles.
The international scientific name Boehmeria has been assigned to Chinese nettle since 1760
What is another name for Chinese nettle?
In ancient times, people noticed the burning properties of the above-ground part of the grass, so all popular names are consonant with certain qualities. In different countries, people gave the plant almost identical names: “zhigalka”, “zhaliva”, “zhigilivka”, “zhiguchka”.
The Russian-language name takes its roots in the Old Slavonic language: “kopriva”, “kropiva”. Various lexical connections are visible with Serbian, Croatian and Polish. Translated from these languages, “nettle” sounds like “boiling water.”
Chinese nettle (Boehmeria nivea) is a perennial herbaceous plant that also has many different names:
- ramie;
- white ramie;
- Bemeria snow-white;
- Chinese;
- Asian.
Mexicans valued fabric made from Chinese nettle fibers for its silky shine, and the British and Dutch for its strength.
Distribution area
In its natural habitat, the plant grows in the eastern part of Asia (tropics, subtropics). Japan and China are considered the birthplace of Asian nettle.
Chinese fiber nettle has served as a raw material for weaving since ancient times. BC e. White ramie fiber was made in Japan and China.
Europe and America learned what ramie, an Asian nettle, looks like much later. Gradually, people began to grow industrial crops for industrial purposes in France, Mexico, and Russia.
It is known that delicate but durable fabrics made from Chinese (Boehmeria nivea) nettle were brought to Russia during the reign of Elizabeth I. At the same time, material from Asian white ramie won the hearts of fashionistas in France, England, Holland and the Netherlands. It is known that in fashionable French tailoring workshops, fabric from the island of Java was called “cambric”.
In Cuba and Colombia, white ramie is grown as livestock feed. From the shoots of Chinese nettle (up to 50 cm in height) protein flour is obtained, which is used to feed poultry, horses, cows, pigs, other livestock and poultry.
By the beginning of the 19th century, Chinese nettle began to be cultivated in Europe and America
Industrial Applications
Chinese nettle has been known as a spinning crop for a long time. The plant has been used by humans for more than 6 thousand years to produce ultra-durable and moisture-resistant natural fabrics. It is believed that white ramie is one of the lightest and most delicate materials. At the same time, Chinese nettle is twice as strong as flax and five times stronger than cotton.
White ramie fibers are characterized by significant dimensions: the length of the stems is from 15 cm to 40 cm, compared to flax (maximum length 3.3 cm) and hemp (maximum length 2.5 cm) fibers.
The fiber diameter of Chinese nettle (Boehmeria nivea) ranges from 25 microns to 75 microns.
Each individual fiber of white ramie can withstand a load of up to 20 grams (for comparison: fairly strong cotton fiber - only up to 7 grams).
The natural color of Asian fiber is white. The impeccable texture makes it easy to apply any color without losing the natural shine and silkiness.Most often, on an industrial scale for the production of modern fabrics, white ramie is mixed with natural fibers of silk, mercerized cotton and viscose.
In ancient times, Chinese nettle cloth was woven by hand. Today, modern machines are used to produce eco-materials.
Thanks to its unique natural properties, ramie is a universal raw material for the production of:
- denim fabrics;
- canvas;
- ropes;
- high-quality paper for printing banknotes;
- elite fabrics (as an additive);
- linen fabrics;
- technical fabrics.
The world's main producers of white ramie in the modern world are South Korea, Thailand, Brazil, China.
Beneficial features
White ramie is a unique spinning crop, the beneficial properties of which were used back in the 4th century BC. e. Nettle canvas has many advantages:
- breathability;
- moisture absorption;
- moisture loss;
- bactericidal properties;
- high level of strength;
- tear resistance;
- torsion resistance;
- sufficient level of elasticity;
- not subject to rotting processes;
- lends itself well to coloring;
- does not lose silkiness after dyeing;
- goes well with wool and cotton fibers;
- Clothes made from fiber do not shrink or stretch and retain their shape.
In the photo - ramie, Asian nettle. Its stems are mowed before flowering 2-3 times a year for the subsequent production of high-quality, natural, environmentally friendly raw materials. The first collection of shoots to obtain fibers is carried out in the second season after planting. Over the next 5-10 years, the perennial produces stable yields:
- 1 ton per hectare in the third year;
- 1.5 tons per hectare for the fourth and subsequent years.
The shoots of the first year provide relatively rough raw materials.
Today, France, Germany, England and Japan are recognized as the leading importers of Chinese ramie nettles.
Conclusion
Chinese nettle is still considered a valuable raw material for the production of luxury eco-textiles. In addition, many domestic gardeners grow ramie as an exotic ornamental plant. Asian nettle fits effectively into various stylistic trends in landscape design.
