54 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 



the Singhalese for making string, rope, mats, and a coarse kind 

 of cloth. It is generally prepared by retting, or by simply beat- 

 ing and washing. 



Saiisevieria zeijlanica is an herb with erect, fleshy, flat, 

 pointed leaves which are mottled with gray, and are .4 to 1.5 

 meters in height. The flowering shoot is up to 80 centimeters 

 in height. It bears numerous, pale, straw-colored flowers 

 which are usually tinged with green, and are from 2.5 to 3 

 centimeters in length. 



This species is widely distributed in the Philippines. It is 

 frequently cultivated for ornamental purposes, and is occasionally 

 half wild. 



Family AMARYLLIDACEAE 



Genus AGAVE 

 AGAVE CANTALA Roxb. MAGUEY. 



This species was introduced into the Philippines by the 

 Spaniards at an early date. In the Philippines, maguey is most 

 extensively grown in the Ilocano provinces, Luzon, and the is- 

 land of Cebu. Most of the plantations are on a small scale, 

 and modern methods of cultivation are scarcely used. The 

 fiber is, for the most part, extracted by retting the leaves, 

 usually in salt water, which unfortunately detracts from its 

 value. A considerable amount is, however, exported. The 

 chief use of the fiber is in the manufacture of binder twine, 

 rope, etc. In the Philippines it is used locally for textiles, 

 cordage, for making fish nets, hammocks, slippers, and some 

 types of baskets. 



AGAVE S ISA LAN A Perrine. SiSAL. 



This species is very similar to the maguey plant and in the 

 Philippines is usually confused with it. It was not introduced 

 into the Philippines until about 1905, but is now widely dis- 

 tributed. Its culture, treatment, and fiber are generally similar 

 to Agave cantala. The fiber is, however, much more valuable 

 than that of Agave cantala. 



Genus CURCULIGO 

 CURCULIGO RECUR VAT A Dryand. Abang-ABANG. 



The hill people of Camarines use the fiber of this species 

 for making false hair. According to Heyne ■' several species 

 of this genus are reported to give a tough fiber which is used 

 by Dyaks for cordage, and in Borneo for sacking and clothing. 



* Heyne, K., De Nuttige Planten van Nederlandsch-Indie, Volume 1, 

 page 187. 



