Chapter 1

Dalupang( Urena Lobata) as Potential Source of
Commercial Fibers
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
U. lobata was probably spread as a fiber crop and for
its medicinal properties by European voyagers during the
eighteenth century. In 1781, Linnaeus described Urena
Americana, a synonym of U. lobata, based on Jamaican and
Suriname elements, therefore documenting its occurrence in
the New World. By 1827, this species is reported as a
medicinal plant “widely” distributed across the West-Indies.
Later, this species is reported by H.F. Eggers in 1876 on St.
Croix Island (and by A. Stahl in 1884 as a “common species”
in Puerto Rico (Stahl, 2014). By the start of the twentieth
century, I. Urban in his book Symbolize Antillean, reported
this species for the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola,
St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John, Saba, Antigua, St. Kitts,
Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Vincent, Aruba, and
Trinidad.
U. lobata is considered “native” to Antigua, Barbados,
Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Saba,
St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent (Broome et al., 2014),

Bahamas, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin
Islands (Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012). However, in
Cuba this species is considered “exotic’ and its classified
as a noxious weed (González-Torres et al., 2012).
In Florida, this species was introduced before 1895 and
is reported as “escaped to waste places” before 1897 (Chapman,
1897). Currently, it is widely naturalized and is considered
as a category I invasive species, which are plants altering
native plant communities (Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council,
2011)
During the first part of the nineteenth century (1920-
1930) U. lobata was intentionally introduced as a fiber crop
in the Belgian Congo, Central Africa and South America. The
fiber extracted from this species is known as “jute”, “congo-
jute”, “urena” or “aramina” and is used to make carpets and
ropes (Austin, 1999; Francis, 2000; Ong, 2001).
Dalupang( Urena Lobata) is a weed abundantly found in
our locality its use are not so extensive except for its bark
which is soft pliable and strong and can be processed into
fibers that can be useful to varied needs of people in the
locality. Fibers are important material for clothing ropes
and other items. Source of fibers can be from plants, animals
or synthetic materials.
With the recent crisis in the economy and environment
prices of fibers inflate especially the natural fibers. The
need find new sources of material is a significant move that
can substitute abaca, cotton bun and came fibers.
The researcher wanted to explore in this point utilizing
Dalupang Bark as fibers to be a great help for the people in
the country style.
B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The study seeks to answer the following problems.
1. Can Dalupang bark be a source of fibers?
2. Can Dalupang fibers be compared to rope (pisi) in
terms of tensile strength?
C. Statement of Hypothesis
Based on the foregoing research questions identified,
the researchers formulated the null hypothesis:
1. There is no significant difference in Dalupang
(Urena Lobata) as potential source of commercial
fibers.
D. Significance of the Study
The result of the study can hopefully give
the significant contribution to the new use of
Dalupang aside from being a herbal medicine. It hopes

to elevate the economic value of the weeds by
providing new livelihood project in the community.
E. Scope and Limitations of the study
This study focused only to determining the
Dalupang (Urena Lobata) as potential source of
commercial fibers bark only.
F. Definition of Terms
Urena Lobata- commonly known as “Caesar weed” or
“Congo jute”, is an annual, variable, erect, ascendant
undershrub measuring up to 0.5 meters to 2.5 meters
tall. The stems are covered with minute, star-like
hairs and often purple.
Fibers- is a natural or synthetic substance that is
significantly longer that it is wide.
Basin-a bowl for washing, typically attached to a wall
and having faucets connected to a water supply; a
washbasin.
Tabo( pitcher)- The plastic tabo is an almost
indispensable fixture in the Filipino home.

CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Urena Lobata L. Calut-calutan ( tagalog), dalupang (
Bisaya) is an erect branched, shrubby plant 0.6 to 2.5m
high, exceedingly variable more or less pubescent, leaves
pale beneath, ovate to sub orbicular, 3 to 9 cm long
chordate, more or less toothed, or somewhat lobed or
angied, the lobes not extending beyond the middle of the
leaf, the sinuses usually broad acute. Flowers axillary,
solitary or somewhat fancied, pink, about 17mm in diameter,
the 5 carpets covered with short, retrosely barbed spines
(Menil, 2014). Dalupang in its local name can be source of
fibers. When processed well, the bark can produce quality
glossy fibers.
Plant fibers are sclerenchyma tissues. The
sclerenchyma tissues is composed of cells that are
functional upon maturity and mostly dead. Their very thick
secondary walls strength the plants body. They are tough
strong and flexible fibers. The vascular system are made up
of xylem cells and phloem cells, the primary xylem and
phloem cells made up the fibers that we find in plants,

used for making clothing and ropes. There are two kinds of
plants fibers namely coarse and fine fibers. Coarse fibers
are made for rope making and fine fibers for clothing
(Capco, 2015). Dalupang (Urena Lobata) as potential source
of commercial fibers Styrofoam and powdered oyster shells
as tiles Strong fiber to replace abaca Banana peduncles
(Musa paradisiacal) as a potential source of packaging
papers V. Methane outputs of vegetable refuse( Renzorabara,
2015). U. lobata is a pan tropical weed which is also a
cultivated crop in many regions. As an aggressive invasive
plant it is included in the Global Compendium of Weeds, and
has been classified as a noxious weed in the United States,
Fiji, and Cuba (Randall, 2012).

CHAPTER 3
METHODOLOGY
A. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
6-gram bark of Dalupang
6- Tabo( pitcher) of Water
Basin
B. PRODUCERS
a. Collect of matured Dalupang bark
About 6 grams of Dalupang bark were gathered
from Barangay and nearby barangay.
b. Fiber extraction
The Dalupang bark were soaked in a basin
with water for five to seven days until the
soft parts of the bark decomposed. The
extracted fibers were washed with running
water then hanged for drying.
c. Tensile Strength Test
Five Dalupang fibers were prepared at
random. Each strand of fibers and gradually
pulled down until the fibers break apart.

FLOW CHARTL
PREPARATION OF TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT
PREPARATION OF POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL

FIBERS
TEST ORGANISM PREPARATION
INTRODUCTION OF PLANT EXTRACT TO

TEST ORGANISM
OBSERVATION OF MORALITY RATE

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Dalupang( Urena Lobata) as Potential Source of

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

U. lobata was probably spread as a fiber crop and for

its medicinal properties by European voyagers during the

eighteenth century. In 1781, Linnaeus described Urena

Americana, a synonym of U. lobata, based on Jamaican and

Suriname elements, therefore documenting its occurrence in

the New World. By 1827, this species is reported as a

medicinal plant “widely” distributed across the West-Indies.

Later, this species is reported by H.F. Eggers in 1876 on St.

Croix Island (and by A. Stahl in 1884 as a “common species”

in Puerto Rico (Stahl, 2014). By the start of the twentieth

century, I. Urban in his book Symbolize Antillean, reported

this species for the islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola,

Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, St. Vincent, Aruba, and

U. lobata is considered “native” to Antigua, Barbados,

Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, Saba,

St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St. Vincent (Broome et al., 2014),

Islands (Acevedo-Rodríguez and Strong, 2012). However, in

Cuba this species is considered “exotic’ and its classified

as a noxious weed (González-Torres et al., 2012).

In Florida, this species was introduced before 1895 and

is reported as “escaped to waste places” before 1897 (Chapman,

1897). Currently, it is widely naturalized and is considered

as a category I invasive species, which are plants altering

native plant communities (Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council,

During the first part of the nineteenth century (1920-

1930) U. lobata was intentionally introduced as a fiber crop

in the Belgian Congo, Central Africa and South America. The

fiber extracted from this species is known as “jute”, “congo-

jute”, “urena” or “aramina” and is used to make carpets and

ropes (Austin, 1999; Francis, 2000; Ong, 2001).

Dalupang( Urena Lobata) is a weed abundantly found in

which is soft pliable and strong and can be processed into

fibers that can be useful to varied needs of people in the

locality. Fibers are important material for clothing ropes

and other items. Source of fibers can be from plants, animals

prices of fibers inflate especially the natural fibers. The

need find new sources of material is a significant move that

can substitute abaca, cotton bun and came fibers.

The researcher wanted to explore in this point utilizing

Dalupang Bark as fibers to be a great help for the people in

the country style.

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study seeks to answer the following problems.

1. Can Dalupang bark be a source of fibers?

2. Can Dalupang fibers be compared to rope (pisi) in

terms of tensile strength?

Based on the foregoing research questions identified,

the researchers formulated the null hypothesis:

1. There is no significant difference in Dalupang

(Urena Lobata) as potential source of commercial

D. Significance of the Study

The result of the study can hopefully give

the significant contribution to the new use of

Dalupang aside from being a herbal medicine. It hopes

providing new livelihood project in the community.

E. Scope and Limitations of the study

This study focused only to determining the

Dalupang (Urena Lobata) as potential source of