[i-spahr-toh] 
| any of several grasses, esp. Stipa tenacissima, of southern Europe and northern Africa, used for making paper, cordage, etc. |
| es·par·to (ĭ-spär'tō) n. pl. es·par·tos A tough, wiry grass (Stipa tenacissima) of northern Africa, yielding a fiber used in making paper and as cordage. [Spanish, from Latin spartum, from Greek sparton, rope.] |