25 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 



of from 3 to 9 meters. The leaves are about 2 or 3 meters long 

 and about 5 to 8 centimeters wide. It is claimed that the fibers 

 from this species are tougher than those from Pandanus radi- 

 cans. The leaves are used for making coarse mats and baskets. 



PANDANUS DUBIUS Spreng. Taboan. 



Local names: Bdkong (Bohol) ; tahodn (Surigao). 



This is a large pandan found in the southern Philippines. 

 It is used locally for making coarse mats. 



PANDANUS LUZON ENSIS Merr. Alasas. 



Local names: Alasas (Zambales, Rizal,) ; dasa (Rizal) ; pandan de China 

 (Bulacan). 



This species is widely distributed in central Luzon. It reaches 

 a height of about 7 meters. It is economically of little value, 

 but the leaves are used for weaving baskets and mats. 



PANDANUS RADICANS Blanco. Oyango. 



Local names: Olango (Leyte) ; owango (Surigao); oyango (Albay) ; 

 uyaiigo (Sorsogon) ; ivango (Bohol). 



This species is apparently widely distributed in the Philip- 

 pines. It reaches a height of 8 meters, and has long, wide 

 leaves and dark, brick-red fruits. It is used for making coarse 

 mats, bags, and sometimes hats. According to Delgado, in the 

 year 1750, fibers were extracted from the long prop roots and 

 used for weaving a fine cloth; but Blanco, writing in 1837, 

 states that these fibers were no longer utilized. In Mindanao 

 the wood has been found to be excellent for the manufacture 

 of splints used in making baskets; in fact, they are reported 

 to be superior to rattans for this purpose. 



PANDANUS SABOTAN Blanco. (Plate VI). Sabutan. 



Local name: Sabutan (Laguna, Rizal, Tayabas). 



According to Mr. E. D. Merrill, the botanical status of this spe- 

 cies is doubtful. It seems probable that it is a cultivated form 

 or variety of the common and widely distributed Pandaniis 

 tectorius. This plant, from which the sabutan fiber is obtained, 

 is well known and has been cultivated in Laguna province for 

 at least two centuries. It greatly resembles the common Pan- 

 danvs tectorius in appearance, but the fruits have never been 

 collected. The plant is from 2 to 4 meters in height. The 

 leaves resemble those of Pandanus tectorius, but are of finer 

 texture. Sabutan is cultivated in and about towns along the 

 eastern and northern shores of Laguna de Bay, in parts of 

 Tayabas province, and on the island of Polillo; but has never 

 been found wild, although it not infrequently occurs where 

 cultivation has been abandoned. It is easily propagated by 

 axillary suckers which grow from the lower parts of the stems. 



