According to General Records of Nanzhao, “Gerbera delavayi cloth: grass leave is three or four cun long, grow from the ground. There is cotton on its back. Take the end out and draw for thread and weave for cloth with wideness of seven cun. It could function as tinder for fire, thus called fire grass (Gerbera delavayi) in ancient times.”

Gerbera delavayi, also known as tinder grass which functioned as tinder for ignition in ancient times, is a wild herb in Shilin.

Gerbera delavayi (Photo from online)

Sani people tear off the soft white fiber fluff from the handle of Gerbera delavayi, spin it into threads, weave it into Gerbera delavayi cloth with a weaving machine, and then make Gerbera delavayi clothes of it - this whole process includes more than 20 procedures.

Spinning

Weaving

Gerbera Delavayi clothes are white and yellowish, soft and comfortable, breathable, warm in winter and cool in summer, and durable.

Gerbera Delavayi cloth

As Gerbera delavayi is a small plant, it takes a lot of hard work to collect enough Gerbera delavayi for a coat, even several generations’ joint endeavor; so Sani people regard it as a treasure and pass it on from generation to generation.