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Hesperaloe
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Hesperaloe is a desert plant native to northern Mexico. Two species, H. funifera and H. nocturna, are being examined as possible new fiber crops. The fiber cells of Hesperaoloe are unusually long and thin (3-4 mm long and 14-17 microns wide). This high length-to-width ratio is found only in a few other specialty fibers, such as abaca and sisal. While Hesperaloe can be used to produce specialty papers, its largest market opportunity may be as a blend material to use with other fibers, which increases strength, softness, and other performance characteristics. Hesperaloe could also be used as a cellulose feedstock for bioenergy and bioproducts.
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