30 



These are exteriorly more or less hexagonal in shape and 

 about 1 cm. in diameter. The outer surface of each drupe 

 is sharply convex, forming a well-marked knob. When 

 the drupes drop from the fruit they show that radially 

 they are tapering and fibrous, and about 6 to 7 cm. long. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The species is found in the district north of Mount 

 Banajao, Laguna, including the towns of Majayjay, Lui- 

 siana, and Cavinti, and extending into Tayabas Province. 

 Recently specimens of this pandan were collected by the 

 Bureau of Science in Nueva Vizcaya. It seems to grow 

 best in the half shade and is intolerant of stagnant water. 



PREPARATION. 



After removal of the spines from the leaves in the usual 

 way, the strips are put in the sun and allowed to wilt. 

 Then the strips are rolled under one end of a heavy smooth 

 cylindrical log resting on two pieces of wood. The weight 

 of the log is increased by tying stones or heavy pieces of 

 iron or wood around its center. By a handle attached to 

 its upper surface, the log is rocked to and fro and the strips 

 under it are flattened and made more supple. A further 

 drying of the material in the sun completes the preparation. 



USES. 



Mats of this pandan are exported weekly by the thousands 

 from Majayjay and Luisiana, Laguna. On coarse mats 

 rice, copra, and similar products are dried, while the finer 

 ones are used for sleeping mats. The weavers in Cavinti, 

 Laguna, confine themselves almost entirely to the manufac- 

 ture of hats which are cheap and fairly durable and which 

 find a large and ready sale at Pagsanjan and Manila, their 

 principal markets. 



Telescope baskets (tampipi), much used by Filipinos for 

 storing clothes and for traveling purposes, are also made 

 of this pandan. The making of doilies, hand bags, wall 

 pockets, picture frames, and slippers in the public schools 

 from the pandan of Majayjay indicate that all its com- 

 mercial possibilities are not yet fully appreciated. 



