Ramie

Ramie

　　Ramie

　　Ramie, also known as rope hemp, is a plant of the Moraceae family and an annual herbaceous species. Its upper stems and middle sections are square-shaped, while the lower stem is round, with rough, grooved bark. It has palmate compound leaves and oval-shaped achenes. Ramie is not drought-tolerant or waterlogged-resistant, and thrives in fertile, sandy soil.

　　The fibers of ramie are uniform, smooth, and long, with a typical tensile strength of thirty-eight kilograms. They are rich in cellulose and hemicellulose, have good elasticity, and are easy to dye. Ramie can be used to weave linen, canvas, ropes, make fishing nets, and produce paper. Its seeds, called hemp hearts, can be pressed for oil used in making paints and coatings, and are also used in traditional medicine.

　　This type of hemp is cultivated in Luotian, Yingshan, and Macheng. Locals commonly use ramie to make ropes and stitch shoe soles.