Excerpts: Structural, or leaf, fibers (mostly known as hard fibers) include principally the cordage and brush fibers. As a class, they are long, coarse, harsh, and strong. Some (such as sisal, henequen, abaca, and some istles) are most suitable for twisting into coarse twines and cordage. They also are used extensively in floor coverings and locally in bags. Others (such as piassava, some istles, and magueys) are bulky, stiff, and suitable for brushes. A few are fine and soft (such as pineapple fiber) and are used locally in fabrics. But all hard fibers have the same general characteristics of growth and methods for obtaining the fibers. Many of them originated in the Americas. The henequen of Yucatan was probably the earliest vegetable fiber used in the Western Hemisphere.