manila is a fiber extracted from the leaves of
Abacá Abacá (/ɑːbəˈkɑː/ ah-bə-KAH; Filipino: Abaka [ɐbɐˈka]), binomial name Musa textilis, is a species of banana native to the Philippines,[3] grown as a commercial crop in the Philippines, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. The plant, also known as Manila hemp,[3] has great economic importance, being harvested for its fiber, also called Manila hemp, extracted from the leaf-stems.[4] The plant grows to 13–22 feet (4.0–6.7 m),[1] and averages about 12 feet (3.7 m). The fiber was originally used for making twines and ropes; now most is pulped and used in a variety of specialized paper products including tea bags, filter paper and banknotes. It is classified as a hard fiber, along with coir, henequin and sisal.