52 PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. Asclcpias. 



exudes amilky juice, which thickens into an elastic sub- 

 stance, very like Caoutchouc and rubs out blacklead pen- 

 cil lines as readily as that does, and I think may be reckon- 

 ed an additional species of it. Leaves opposite, the pairs in 

 luxuriant shoots (fit lor flax,) very remote, petioled, ex- 

 actly cordate, acute-pointed, entire, very soft, with much 

 fine down on both sides ; general length from four to six 

 inches, and from three to four broad. Petioles round, 

 downy, from two to four inches long. Panicles interfoli- 

 aceous, large, drooping, composed of alternate, drooping 

 branches, of numerous, small umbellets, of beautiful green- 

 ish yellow flowers. Bractes minute, two or three under the 

 insertion of the fascicles of flowers which compose the 

 umbellets. Calyx deeply five-cleft ; divisions rather more 

 than half the length of the tube of the corol, and downy 

 on the outside. Corol salver-shaped. Divisions of the 

 border obliquely oval, with apices rounded, greenish to- 

 ward the centre, with the exterior half yellow. Column 

 of fructification shurt-clavate, about as long as the 

 tube of the corol, with the white apex of the common 

 stigma naked. Follicles ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, nearly 

 round, with a groove on the inside, clothed with much soft, 

 velvet-like green down ; about six inches long, and from 

 four to five in circumference where thickest. Seeds nu- 

 merous, obovate, thin, with a broad membranaceous mar- 

 gin, and long soft silky pappus. 



The bark of the young luxuriant shoots yields a large 

 portion of beautiful fine silky fibres, with which the moun- 

 taineers of Rajemahl make their bow strings, on account 

 of their great strength, and durability. 



During the rains, they cut the shoots into lengths at 

 the insertion of the leases, peel oft' the barii, and with 

 their nails, or a bit of stick on a board, remove the pulpy 

 part. A person accustomed to this work, will, 1 am told, 

 clean as much as six pounds of the fibres in one day. 

 These fibres, and those of the bark of the Malay plant 



