Rhea, a variety of the nettle family, which grows luxuriantly in India. From the delicate fibers in its bark the finest and strongest textile fabrics can be produced. They can be worked into every variety of fabric, from velvets to laces. It is specially suitable, from its lightness and toughness, for tents and ship canvas, and it is found to be far more durable than linen.
Entry from Everybody's Cyclopedia,
1912. I did not include the entries for Rhea as a figure of Greek mythology and a bird since they were better covered by existing E2 entries.