38 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 



SPOROBOLUS INDICUS R. Br. 



The tough culms of this grass are used in Panay for the 

 manufacture of hats. 



Sporobolu.'^ hidicus is usually a rather densely tufted, peren- 

 nial, slender, wiry grass with erect, branched stems, 1 meter or 

 less in height. The leaves are 10 to 20 centimeters long, and 

 flat; when dry, rolled up lengthwise. The panicles are slender, 

 erect or somewhat nodding, and 10 to 35 centimeters in length. 



This species is widely distributed in the Philippines in waste 

 places, along roadsides, etc. 



Genus THYSANOLAENA 

 THYSANOLAENA MAXIMA Kuntze. (Plate XII). Lasa or TiGER GRASS. 

 Local names: Buguhi, bugubiii (Pampanga) ; buibiii (Iloko, Bontoc) ; 

 gatbo (Camarines) ; Idsa (Tagalog) ; tagddeu (Bontoc) ; tagisa (Misamis) ; 

 tambu (Bulacan, Rizal, Mindoro). 



In the Philippines a very characteristic, light dustbroom is 

 made of the panicles of several of the coarser grasses, notably 

 Thijsanolaena and Phragmites. These brooms are extensively 

 used for sweeping the highly-polished hardwood floors so 

 characteristic of the better houses in the Philippines. Thijsa- 

 nolaena panicles make the best grade of these brooms, and for 

 this purpose they are gathered extensively in some parts of the 

 Islands. The handles of the brooms are made of the flowering 

 stems variously interwoven or bound together, the panicles being 

 arranged in a fan-like fashion to form the broom itself. The 

 brooms are decidedly pretty and very effective for their special 

 purpose. Thysanolaena brooms are more durable than those 

 made from Phragmites and command a higher price. 



Thysanolaena maxima is widely distributed in Luzon, but is 

 of local occurrence, especially at low and medium altitudes. At 

 higher altitudes it is much more abundant, and in the pine region 

 of the Mountain Province it is one of the characteristic, coarse 

 grasses of ravines. It is distinguished by its ample, open panicle 

 and its very numerous, minute spikelets. 



Family CYPERACEAE 



Genus CYPERUS 



CYPERUS MALACCENSIS Lam. (Plates XIII, XIV). Balanggot. 



Local names: Bagd-as (Bisaya) ; balanggot (Tagalog, Bisaya) ; balonggdt 

 (Pampanga); banniggot (Camarines); tikog (Agusan). 



The stems of this sedge are used for tying purposes, for 

 making coarse hats, slippers, mats, and perhaps for baskets. 

 For coarse work the entire stem is employed, but for the finer 



