esparto

Species of grass native to southern Spain, southern Portugal, and the Balearics, but now widely grown in dry, sandy locations throughout the world. The plant is just over 1 m/3 ft high, producing greyish-green leaves, which are used for making paper, ropes, baskets, mats, and cables. (Stipa tenacissima.)

A similar grass (Lygeum spartum) from the same area and used for the same purposes is also called esparto.