48o The Ohio Naturalist. [Vol. IX, No. 6, 



THE UNCULTIVATED FIBER PLANTS OF OHIO. 



Freda Detmers. 



This list of plants was taken from the Ninth Report of the 

 United States Fiber Investigation Commission of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, 1897. They are grouped according to the 

 part used and the character of the fiber as pseudo, structural and 

 bast fibers. Many of these plants are used quite extensively 

 in the arts in other countries if not in this one. 



The list of uncultivated plants is supplemented by a few cul- 

 tivated ones, some of which are in general cultivation as Zea mays. 

 Triticum sativum, etc., and others as Linum usitatissimum have 

 escaped from cultivation. 



Pseudo Fibers. 



Fungi: — Polyporus squamosus Fr., P. betulinas Fr. and Meru- 

 lius lacrymans Fr. are used for razor-strops ; Fomes fomentarius 

 Fr. is used for chest protectors, hat linings, coarse garments, tin- 

 der and other household purposes; Daedalea quercina Pk. is 

 used for tinder. 



FiLiCALEs: — Adiantum pedatum L. — The glossy leaf stalks 

 of this species and of A. capillus-veneris are used for ornamental 

 weaving in caps, baskets and mats by the Northern Indians. 



Lycopodiales: — Lycopodium clavatum L. is used in Sweden 

 in the manufacture of door-mats. 



Gymnospermae: — Pinus strobus L. is used for excelsior. 



Monocotylae: — Philotria canadensis (Mx.) Britt. is used for 

 paper, but is of doubtful utility; Sorghum vulgare Pers. is used 

 for brooms and brushes. 



Dicotylae: — Hicoria spp. — Hickory splints are used for 

 brushes; Ulmus fulva Michx. — The bark is used for horse collars; 

 Dirca palustris L. — The leathery twigs are used as thongs; Frax- 

 inus nigra Marsh. — Thin layers of wood are employed as material 

 for baskets; Ligustrum vulgare L. — The branches are used for 

 bird cages and traps; Viburnum spp. — The flexible and tenacious 

 branches are used for binding bales and large packages. 



Textile Fibers. 



Structural Fibers. 



Gymnospermae: — Larix larincina (Du Roi) Koch. — The 

 roots are used by the Indians for sewing seams of birch bark 

 canoes and making basket kettles. 



Monocotylae: — Typha latifolia L. and T. angustifolia L. — 

 The leaves are used for chair bottoms, mats, ropes and strings, 

 and the fibrous material borne in the spadix is used for stuffing 



