22 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 



to 22 centimeters in length. The fruits are red, oval in shape, 

 and about 3 centimeters in length. This species is common and 

 widely distributed in the Philippines. 



GNETUM sp. Kaliat. 



Local names: Kadiat (Itneg) ; kaliat (Iloko). 



This species is a small tree with thin, glossy, elongated, pointed 

 leaves. Rope made from the bark had the greatest tensile 

 strength of all the bast ropes tested by King. It was, more- 

 over, exceptionally pliable. In both the dry and wet conditions 

 this bast stood first both as regards tensile strength and break- 

 ing length. The bast strips have a rich, brown color, are free 

 from irregularities, and have a rather waxy appearance. 



Rope made from Gnetum is held in high esteem on account of 

 its great strength, pliability, and lightness, and is considered by 

 the Igorots and Ilocanos to be superior to that made of any 

 other local fiber. King found the rope to have a tensile strength 

 of 773 kilos per square centimeter. Concerning its strength 

 King says: 



Gnetum sp. rope is stronger than machine-laid maguey rope made of 

 government grade Cebu No. 2 fiber and in tenacity approaches closely 

 cordage made of the most superior grade of abaca fiber. When wetted 

 for twenty-four hours this bast rope increases 31 per cent in strength 

 and is actually stronger than machine-laid abaca rope made of "F" grade 

 fiber. 



Several other species of Gnetum are used in making ropes. 

 Family TYPHACEAE 



Genus TYPHA 

 TYPHA ANGUSTIFOLIA L. (Plate V). Cat-tail. 



Local names: Anibong (Bontok) ; balanggot (Tagalog) ; buhai-buhai (Ne- 

 gros Occidental); lampakariai (Bisaya) ; tubol-tubol (Bikol, Bisaya). 



The stems and leaves of the cat-tail are used for tying pur- 

 poses, while the entire or split culms are utilized for making 

 coarse bags and baskets. The straw is well adapted for making 

 slippers. The stems and leaves are occasionally twisted into 

 coarse ropes which, however, have little tensile strength. The 

 floss from the protruding heads is sometimes used for stuffing 

 pillows. 



This species reaches a height of 2 meters. The leaves are 

 long and from 10 to 12 millimeters wide. The spikes are 

 cylindrical, the female ones when mature are brown, 12 to 20 

 centimeters long, and up to 2 centimeters in diameter. This 

 plant is locally very abundant in low, wet places and shallow, 

 stagnant, fresh water. It is widely distributed in the Phil- 

 ippines. 



