42 



stems and numerous rather long but narrow leaves at the 

 base. The panicles generally do not exceed 40 cm. in length. 

 They are of pale green or speckled black and straw color 

 and consist of simple ascending spikes having awnless 

 spikelets. 



USES. 



Hats. — Fairly fine straws of medium length are obtained 

 from the flower stalks and utilized at times in Iloilo Province 

 as a hat material. The retail price of these hats varies from 

 Tim to ?=2.50. 



TIGER GRASS. 



(Thysanolaena maxima.) 



Tiger grass (E.) ; buibui (II.) ; bugubui (Negrito in Pampanga) ; 

 lasa (Bataan) ; tagadeu (Bontoc). Collected also by B. of S. in 

 Bulacan, Mindoro, Occidental Negros, Rizal. 



This grass, found along the steep sides of mountains or 

 near their summit in Bataan, grows practically at sea level 

 in Rizal (Montalban). It is identical with the grass known 

 in India as tiger grass. The plant has a tall and solid 

 stem. Its long panicles consist of numerous fine slender 

 branches having very fine and delicate flowers and seeds. 



PREPAKATION. 



No other preparation outside of drying the panicles and 

 the removal of their fine seeds by pounding is necessary. 



USES. 



Brooms. — This grass is used for the best grade of Philip- 

 pine brooms. It is not as soft as tambo, but will wear 

 better. On account of its good wearing qualities and 

 because the material is less plentiful and harder to obtain 

 than tambo, tiger-grass or lasa brooms, as they are more 

 commonly known in the Philippines, are sold at a higher 

 price than tambo brooms. 



The panicles are also made into brushes used for white- 

 washing. 



GRASSES RARELY USED. 



There are a number of species of grasses in the Philippines 

 that are occasionally employed in the making of hats. 

 Sometimes a farmer, to satisfy a particular fancy or whim, 



