90 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



the pinnse face each other, but instead of being flat, as in Zamia, each 

 pinna is rolled up longitudinally; but their mode of unfolding I have 

 yet to ascertain. It will thus be seen that Stangeria differs from all 

 known Cycads by its inflexed and involute vernation, and in the veins 

 of the pinnse rising from a true midrib, the latter rendering untenable 

 the character usually relied upon for distinguishing fossil Filices fi'om 

 fossil Cycads. In order to perfect the description of this plant, it will 

 be requisite to watch the way in which the pinnae unfold, and also to 

 be furnished with a perfect female cone. To obtain the latter, we 

 solicit the assistance of our correspondents at Natal. 



BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



Pine-Leaf Fibre of Silesia and the Bahamas. 



At p. 277 of our last volume will be found an account of a mode 

 of extracting a useful fibre from the leaves of the common or " Scotch " 

 Pine (Pinus sylvestris) in Silesia, A more full description, which we sub- 

 join, of the manufacture in Silesia, appeared in the * Nassau Guardian,* 

 Bahamas, and seems to have led to the preparation of a similar fibre 

 from another kind of Pine in the islands just mentioned. The account 



is as follows : 



"Near Brcslau, in Silesia, is a domain called the 'Prairie of Hum- 

 boldt ;' there exist two establishments, as remarkable for their produce 

 as for their united services to mankind. One is a manufactory which 

 converts Pine-leaves into a sort of a cotton or wool ; the other offers to 

 invalids, as curative baths, the waters used in the manufacture of that 

 vegetable wool. Both have been erected by M, de Pannewitz, inventor 

 of a chemical process by means of which it is possible to extract from 

 the lono" and slender leaves of the Pine a very filaceous substance, which 

 he has named wood- (or Pine-) wool. 



and 



woven. 



AH the acicular leaves of the Pines, and of the Conifi 



surrounded 



held together by a resinous substance, under the form of a thin pellicle. 



When 



