Brown fiber sheets

Brown fiber sheets

　　The fan palm trees that produce brown fiber sheets are widely distributed in Zhaotong City. Especially along both sides of the Guanhe River in the rural areas around Yanjin County, palm trees grow in dense groves. Every part of the fan palm tree is valuable. Brown fiber sheets are the fibrous sheaths from the leaves of the palm tree. They are known for their high tensile strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, making them a primary material for making rain capes and well filter screens. Once processed into palm fiber threads, they can be woven into items such as palm mats, brushes, and ropes. They can also be used as stuffing for sofas. The palm seeds are rich in starch and protein, with an extraction rate of 80–90%, and can be processed into excellent animal feed after treatment. The trunk of the palm tree is hard, durable, and resistant to water and rot, making it suitable for use in water troughs and small construction materials, as well as being crafted into exquisite handicrafts. The brown hairs at the base of the leaf stalks can be used medicinally. They have astringent and hemostatic properties and are effective against conditions such as uterine bleeding, bloody stools, and diarrhea. The fan palm is an important economic tree species for diversified farming operations in rural areas. (Zhaotong)