Jute (fiber)

Bast fiber derived from either of two East Indian plants (Corchorus olitorius and C. capsularis). The pale brown fibers are soft, lustrous, and coarse, ranging in length from 4 to 10 feet. The brittle fibers are used to produce a thread called hessian. Jute becomes so weak when wet that a thin twine can be broken by hand. It turns brown and degrades with time, sunlight, water, acids, alkalis, and bleach. Jute has been used since prehistoric times. It is used to make sackcloth, burlap cloth, gunnysacks, twine, paper, and carpet backing. It was also used to make brown paper in Europe in the mid-19th century.