''Stipa tenacissima'' (esparto, esparto grass, halfah grass, alfa grass, or needle grass) is a perennial

grass Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family (biology), family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, the grasses of natural grassland and spe ...

of northwestern

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

and the southern part of the

Iberian Peninsula The Iberian Peninsula ( ), also known as Iberia, is a peninsula in south-western Europe. Mostly separated from the rest of the European landmass by the Pyrenees, it includes the territories of peninsular Spain and Continental Portugal, comprisin ...

Distribution

''Stipa tenacissima'' is an endemic species of the Western–Central Mediterranean countries. It grows in France (including

Corsica Corsica ( , , ; ; ) is an island in the Mediterranean Sea and one of the Regions of France, 18 regions of France. It is the List of islands in the Mediterranean#By area, fourth-largest island in the Mediterranean and lies southeast of the Metro ...

), Spain (including the

Balearic Islands The Balearic Islands are an archipelago in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. The archipelago forms a Provinces of Spain, province and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain, ...

), Portugal, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. It grows in dry, rocky and base rich soils, forming a steppe-like

grassland A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominance (ecology), dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes such as clover, and other Herbaceo ...

. It has been managed by people for centuries.

Uses

''Stipa tenacissima'' produces a fiber product called

esparto Esparto, halfah grass, or esparto grass is a fiber produced from two species of perennial grasses of north Africa, Spain and Portugal. It is used for crafts, such as cords, basketry, and espadrilles. '' Stipa tenacissima'' and '' Lygeum spar ...

which is used for crafts, such as cords,

basketry Basket weaving (also basketry or basket making) is the process of weaving or sewing pliable materials into three-dimensional artifacts, such as baskets, mats, mesh bags or even furniture. Craftspeople and artists specialized in making baskets ...

, and

espadrille Espadrilles ( or ; ; ; ; ) are casual, rope-soled shoe, rope-soled, flat but sometimes high-heeled footwear, high-heeled shoes. They usually have a canvas or cotton Textile, fabric upper and a flexible Sole (shoe), sole made of esparto rope. Th ...

s as well as for making paper.

References

External links

*
Stipa tenacissima Spanish information
* {{Authority control tenacissima Fiber plants Bunchgrasses of Europe Flora of Algeria Flora of Morocco Flora of Tunisia Flora of Spain Flora of Portugal Flora of North Africa Plants described in 1759 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Flora of the Mediterranean basin

Distribution

Uses

See also

References

External links