The present invention is directed to natural cellulosic fiber bundles from natural cellulose sources preferably having a length, width, strength, elongation, or other properties desirable for textiles, composites, nonwoven mats, and other applications. For example, the fiber bundles may have a length that is greater than that of individual cells and a fineness of at least about 1 denier and no greater than about 300 denier. The present invention is also directed to textiles, composites, nonwoven mats, and other applications that comprise the fiber bundles. Additionally, the present invention is directed to a method for extracting such natural cellulosic fiber bundles from a cellulose source, the method comprising performing an alkali treatment, an enzyme treatment, or both to separate the fiber bundles from connecting material in the cellulose source.
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