
NOTE ON CHINA GRASS. 179 
Note on China Grass. 
By G. F. Scorr Exuor, M.A., B.Sc, F.LS., F.R.GS. 
[Read 22nd February, 1898. ] 
Cuina Grass, Rhea, or Rami, is derived from two varieties of a 
plant belonging to the netile order, Boehmeria nivea, Gaudich. 
Its history has been a very chequered one,—fibres have 
proved disastrous in many cases, and none more so than the Rami. 
There is a statement that it has been found in the Egyptian 
tombs as a mummy wrapper, but I cannot trace the authority 
for this. 
Tt is mentioned in the Ramayana of India, and its possible use 
as a fibre was pointed out by the botanist Lobel, who flourished 
in the time of Queen Elizabeth. It seemed to have considerable 
prospects in 1872, but unfortunately in that year the price 
suddenly fell from £80 a ton to £24, and after this it seemed 
to have been quite thrown into the background. 
Last year, however, seemed to show that there was a prospect 
of its really coming forward again, and it is on account of this that 
I thought that these few notes might be of interest to the Society. 
The first point is the confusion betwixt Boehmeria nivea proper 
and a variety called tenacissima. The true B. nivea, or China 
Grass, can be grown in China, Mexico, 7.e., in the temperate zone. 
Dr. Morris, e.g., states that it can be cultivated at Kew. The 
variety tenacissima is wholly confined to the tropics, and belongs 
to such places as Java, Sumatra, and Assam. A cold winter is 
fatal to this form, whilst the true 2B. nivea flourishes in North 
‘China, where the winter is severe. 
Another difficulty is the confusion of names. The ordinary 
commercial names seem to be applied as follows :—“ Rhea” to the 
stems or bark with the brown epidermal layer still attached ; 
© Rhea ribbons” to the cortical bark, with or without the 
