Spartum, sparti, siue Spartium, n. g. Plin. A kinde of broome whereof they vsed to make bondes to tie vynes, or to make cables and ropes for shippes.Sparto fiebant funes nautici.Liu.
Lewis and Short: Latin dictionary
Sparti and Spartoe (dissyl.), ōrum, m., = *spa/rtoi (the Sown, from spei/rw), the armed men who sprang up from the dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus, Hyg. Fab. 178; Amm. 19, 8, 11; Varr. ap. Gell. 17, 3, 4; Lact. 3, 4, 9.
spartum (-ton), i, n., = spa/rton, a plant originally growing in Spain, of which ropes, mats, nets, etc., were made (still called in Spain esparto), Spanish broom: Stipa tenacissima, Linn.; Plin. 19, 2, 7, 26; 24, 9, 40, 65; Varr. ap. Gell. 17, 3, 4; id. R. R. 1, 23, 6; Liv. 22, 20.—II.Transf., a rope made of broom, Plin. 28, 4, 11, 46; 35, 11, 40, 137.