What Are the Physical Characteristics of Hemp?

Hemp is classified as a bast fiber plant and shares properties similar to those of flax jute, ramie and kenaf. Hemp is derived from the Cannabis sativa plant and refers to the industrial use of the stalk and the seeds of the plant. Hemp's physical properties make it appropriate for uses in medicine, clothing and accessories and food production.

Hemp Seed

• Hemp seed serves as a food source from the hemp plant. The whole seed contains approximately 25 percent protein; 30 percent carbohydrates; 15 percent insoluble fiber; carotene; phosphorous; potassium; magnesium; sulfur; calcium; iron; zinc; and vitamins E, C, B1, B2, B3 and B6. Hemp seed has essential fatty acids. Manufacturers use hemp seeds to make foods including snack bars, cookies and vegan burgers. Hemp seed is also useful as a holistic pharmaceutical, for example, to treat skin ailments.

Primary Bast Fibers

• The primary bast fibers, or long fibers, stretch the entire length of the hemp plant, and makes up approximately 70 percent of the total fibers. The primary fibers are high in cellulose and low in lignin. Hemp can grow to 15 feet in length, and the primary fibers are harvested in long strands. These physical properties make primary fibers extremely strong and durable. Furthermore, they give the fibers insulative properties that make hemp ideal as clothing. Therefore, you can find primary hemp fiber cane in twine, textiles, paper and some household goods.

Secondary Bast Fibers

• The secondary bast fibers, or short fibers, make up the remaining 30 percent of the bast fibers, and are shorter with a greater concentration of lignin than the primary fibers. The secondary fibers are less valuable than the primary fibers, and become more prevalent when the hemp crop is densely planted. This planting variation yields a thicker, shorter hemp plant that has a greater concentration of secondary fibers. Extracting the secondary fibers is labor-intensive.

Hurd

• The hemp plant's inner stalk consists of short, woody, fibrous material called hurd. Traditionally, hurd has been considered waste as it is the by-product of the bast fiber extraction. However, it is useful as biomass fuel and as a food additive.

Considerations

• At the time of publication, China is the largest producer of hemp and its resulting products. Other countries are producing hemp to a lesser extent. Environmentalists hail hemp as the replacement for cotton -- a crop that has been cited as environmentally destructive due to its reliance on pesticides and vast quantities of fertilizers.