ramie

n. species of shrub related to the nettle; fiber obtained from the ramie plant (used in textiles)

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) is a flowering plant in the nettle family Urticaceae, native to eastern Asia. It is a herbaceous perennial growing to 1 - 2.5 m tall; the leaves are heart-shaped, 7-15 cm long and 6-12 cm broad, and white on the underside with dense small hairs - this gives it a silvery appearance; unlike nettles, the hairs do not sting. The true ramie or China Grass also called Chinese plant or white ramie is the Chinese cultivated plant. A second type, is known as green ramie or rhea and is believed to have originated in the Malay Peninsula. This type has smaller leaves which are green on the underside and it appears to be better suited to tropical conditions.
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Noun
1. tall perennial herb of tropical Asia with dark green leaves; cultivated for the fiber from its woody stems that resembles flax
(synonym) ramee, Chinese silk plant, China grass, Boehmeria nivea
(hypernym) false nettle, bog hemp
(member-holonym) Boehmeria, genus Boehmeria

n. ramie, species of shrub related to the nettle; fiber obtained from the ramie plant (Botany)

(n.)
The grass-cloth plant (B/hmeria nivea); also, its fiber, which is very fine and exceedingly strong; -- called also China grass, and rhea. See Grass-cloth plant, under Grass.