either of two kinds of long, coarse grass (Stipa tenacissima or Lygeum spartum) growing in Spain and N Africa, used to make cordage, baskets, shoes, and paper
also esparto grass
Origin of espartoSpanish ; from Classical Latin spartum ; from Classical Greek sparton, spartos ; from Indo-European base an unverified form sper-, to turn from source spiral
Either of two tough, wiry grasses (Stipa tenacissima or Lygeum spartum) of northern Africa and southern Europe, yielding fiber used in making paper and as cordage.
Origin of espartoSpanish, from Latin spartum, from Greek sparton, rope.