Chemical composition of bhimal fibres

Bhimal is an important agro-forestry tree in the Himalayan regions. It is grown abundantly as it has multiple uses as fuel, fodder, fruit, fibre, etc. The stem or bast of this tree has been traditionally used for extraction of bhimal fibres. Local people extract bhimal fibre by the process of retting in water bodies around them. The extracted bhimal fibres are basically ligno-cellulosic in nature. This paper is an attempt to enumerate, define and quantify various components of bhimal fibres. Understanding of the basic chemical composition of bhimal fibres would aid to ascertain appropriate end uses for future researchers.