DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES 45 



Genus SCIRPUS 

 SCIRPUS GROSSUS L. f. TiKIU. 



Local names: Agds, hangkudng (Bikol) ; baga-ds, bdki-bdki (Bisaya) ; 

 ragiudhi (Camarines) ; tikiig (Agusan) ; tikiii, titiu (Tagalog). 



The whole stems of this sedge are used to a slight extent in 

 making thick sleeping-mats, and the split stems for making 

 fine mats. The stems are also used for making special types of 

 bags or baskets. 



Scirpus grossus is one of the coarsest sedges found in the 

 Philippines. It has triangular stems up to 2 meters in height. 

 The large inflorescences are subtended by broad leaf-like bracts 

 up to 60 centimeters in length. This species is abundant in 

 open swamps at low altitudes, and is widely distributed in the 

 Philippines. 



SCIRPUS LACUSTRIS Linn. TiKER. 



Local name: Tiker (Iloko), 



This species occurs in northern Luzon, where it is utilized 

 for weaving mats. In Formosa it is said to be cultivated for 

 this purpose. 



Scirpus lacustris grows in swamps, and in the shallow ponds 

 of the Ilocos provinces and Cagayan. The rounded stems are 

 a meter or more in height. 



This species has been reported only from northern Luzon. 



Family ARACEAE 



In the Philippines, as in other tropical countries, there are 

 many monocotyledonous vines which climb up in the trees and 

 send down aerial roots, which may stretch from the tops of tall 

 trees to the ground. These air roots are frequently very stout 

 and in their natural state are used for tying purposes, or are 

 variously prepared and used industrially. In the Philippines, 

 the air roots used are chiefly those of aroids. Woodsmen have 

 undoubtedly used air roots for tying purposes for ages, but it 

 has remained for the public schools to show that they are useful 

 for industrial purposes. They are employed chiefly in the man- 

 ufacture of baskets. They were first tried for baskets in the 

 schools of the Bikol peninsula, and the Bikol name ''amlong" 

 has come into general school use. 



The only part of the roots used in making baskets is the inner 

 part or central cylinder. This cylinder should be removed from 

 the surrounding tissue immediately after collection, as it is then 

 easier to pull out. This moreover obviates the necessity of 

 carrying superfluous tissue. The central cylinder furnishes a 

 strong, round, pliable material with a uniform diameter. It is 



