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The Economic botany Collections at Kew house around 40 specimens of bark cloth, a versatile material made from beaten tree bark, once used widely in the Pacific Islands and Indonesia . Bark cloth comes primarily from trees of the Moraceae family, including Broussonetia papyrifera, Artocarpus altilis, and Ficus spp. It is made by beating strips of the fibrous inner bark of these trees into sheets, which are then finished into a variety of items.
The main use of bark cloth is for clothing.
The Collections at Kew illustrate the amazing ability of this beaten tree bark to form soft and delicate items of apparel. Examples include shawls, loincloths, headdresses, skirts, dresses, shirts, and even a tight fitting jacket.
Bark cloth has not just been worn, however, but has also been used as a wrapping for the deceased, a dowry, a room partition, and a mosquito screen. The cloth has played an important role in the societies of the South Pacific, being incorporated into folklore, religion, culture, and ritual. It has been popular in ritual gift exchange, in everyday trading and in healing ceremonies, and it has been used to symbolise status and wealth, with the level of decoration, the style of wearing, and the amount of cloth worn signifying rank. In Tahiti , for example, the upper class wore the ‘ahutara' or shawl over their shoulders, while the lower classes wore one rectangle tucked around the body and under the arms so the shoulders were exposed to passing superiors. Meanwhile, in Fiji the length of a man's loincloth symbolised his rank. A chief's loincloth would drag on the ground, while a poor man's loincloth would drape over his belt as little as possible.
Each region in the Pacific developed its own unique methods of production, style of wearing and design. The Economic Botany Collections at Kew have examples from a wide geographical range, including Pitcairn, Hawaii, Tahiti, the Cook Islands, Samoa, Futuna, Tonga, Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Sulawesi, Halamahera, Seram, New Guinea, and Java. The samples cover the many diverse uses, designs and styles of bark cloth, and are the result of a number of private collectors and colonial expeditions in the 19th century, from HRH the Duke of Edinburgh to the mutineers of the HMS Bounty. Most of the examples at Kew date from the late 19th century. The production of bark cloth slowed considerably in the 20th century, eventually dying out in all but a few islands as missionaries from the west visited the Pacific, bringing with them western ideas and goods such as cotton textiles. In fact, it became a sign of a convert to wear cotton, rather than bark cloth.
With the manufacture of bark cloth in such decline, the Collections at Kew serve as an important reminder of this unique craft. The specimens kept here will provide present and future generations with a chance to see samples of the beautifully crafted cloth, and an opportunity to learn about the societies who once used bark cloth in nearly every aspect of their lives, from clothing their children and adorning their priests to healing their sick and wrapping their dead.
outer covering of the stem of woody plants, composed of waterproof cork cells protecting a layer of food-conducting tissue-the phloem or inner bark (also called bast). As the woody stem increases in size (see cambium), the outer bark of inelastic dead cork cells gives way in patterns characteristic of the species: it may split to form grooves; shred, as in the cedar; or peel off, as in the sycamore or the shagbark hickory. A layer of reproductive cells called the cork cambium produces new cork cells to replace or reinforce the old. The cork of commerce is the carefully harvested outer bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber), a native of S Europe. The phloem (see stem) conducts sap downward from the leaves to be used for storage and to nourish other plant parts. "Girdling" a tree, i.e., cutting through the phloem tubes, results in starvation of the roots and, ultimately, death of the tree; trees are sometimes girdled by animals that eat bark. The fiber cells that strengthen and protect the phloem ducts are a source of such textile fibers as hemp, flax, and jute; various barks supply tannin, cork (see cork oak), dyes, flavorings (e.g., cinnamon), and drugs (e.g., quinine). The outer bark of the paper birch was used by Native Americans to make baskets and canoes.
Tree bark is the outer layer of a wooden plant. This is what protects the inside.
What else can I help you with?
Is it safe to paint the bark of a tree?
It is generally not safe to paint the bark of a tree as it can block the tree's ability to exchange gases with its surroundings and affect its health. It is best to avoid painting tree bark and allow it to naturally weather and develop on its own.
What is the name of a kind of tree with brown bark at base of tree but has white bark on its limbs?
The tree you are referring to is likely a birch tree. Birch trees have distinctive white bark on their limbs and a darker brown bark at the base of the tree.
What type of tree has horizontal striped bark?
The type of tree that has horizontal striped bark is called a sycamore tree.
Is tree bark a pure substance?
No, tree bark is not a pure substance. It is a complex mixture of various compounds such as cellulose, lignin, tannins, and oils.
Do trees shed bark?
Yes, trees shed their bark as they grow. This process is known as exfoliation or flaking, and it allows the tree to shed old, damaged, or dead outer layers of bark to make way for new growth. Bark shedding also helps trees maintain healthy outer layers and protect themselves from pests and diseases.
Which of these terms best describes tree bark?
A tree bark can be best described as tissues on a woody stem or root outside the vascular cambium.
What describes tree bark?
the outside layer of a tree that is hard, and commonly dark!
What best describes the tree bark?
Tree bark is the protective outer covering of a tree, serving as a barrier against environmental threats like pests, diseases, and physical damage. It consists of multiple layers, including the outer bark (periderm) and inner bark (phloem), which help transport nutrients. The texture, thickness, and color of bark can vary significantly between species, playing a role in the tree's overall adaptation and health.
Which term best describs tree bark?
secondary phloem
What terms best describe tree bark?
Periderm is another term for tree bark. It comprises tissue surrounding cork cambium.
What color dye comes from hinau tree bark?
Black describes the color of dye from hinau tree bark. The tree in question (Elaeocarpus hinau) has bark that produces traditional dyes for native New Zealand baskets and flax mats. The addition of a rust of iron results in non-corrosive ink.
What kind of tree bark or mulch is best for placing around landscaping plants?
Pine bark mulch is considered to be the best for a home garden.
Is it safe to paint the bark of a tree?
It is generally not safe to paint the bark of a tree as it can block the tree's ability to exchange gases with its surroundings and affect its health. It is best to avoid painting tree bark and allow it to naturally weather and develop on its own.
Why is the magnolia tree bark peeling?
The magnolia tree bark peels naturally as the tree grows, allowing for new bark to form and protect the tree.
How can I safely and effectively peel tree bark without harming the tree?
To safely and effectively peel tree bark without harming the tree, use a sharp knife or chisel to carefully remove small sections of bark, making sure not to cut too deeply into the tree's inner layers. Avoid peeling bark from the entire circumference of the tree, as this can disrupt the tree's ability to transport nutrients and water. It is best to only peel bark from small areas and to do so sparingly to minimize harm to the tree.
Is bark on a tree a renewable resource?
Yes tree bark is renewable
What is a beavers favorite food?
Beavers eat mostly tree bark and the soft tissue inside of tree bark.
