DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES 57 



waste left after the fiber is stripped is a promising source of 

 paper pulp. 



Abaka has been introduced into other tropical countries, but 

 up to the present time practically the entire supply of the 

 fiber has come from the Philippine Islands. In 1918 the 

 exports amounted to 169,260,377 kilos, valued at 116,383,100 

 pesos. 



Family ZINGIBERACEAE 



Genus AMOMUM 

 AMOMUM sp. 



The leaf stalks of this plant are split and made into a light 

 rope. King found this rope, when wet, to have a tensile 

 strength of 325 kilos per square centimeter. 



Family MARANTACEAE 

 Genus DONAX 

 DONAX CANNAE FORMIS (Forst.) K. Sch. (Plate XXII). BamBAN. 



Local names: Aratan (Gaddanes in Nueva Vizcaya) ; hamhdn or banbdn 

 (Cagayan, Pampanga, Bataan. Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna, Tayabas, Mindoro, 

 Camarines, Sorsogon, Albay, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Cebu, Occidental Ne- 

 gros. Oriental Negros, Bohol, Palawan) ; barasbardsan (Iloko in Tarlac) ; 

 bonbon, (Cavite, Mindoro) ; dariunaka (Union, Iloko in Nueva Vizcaya, 

 Zambales, Tarlac, Camiguin Island) ; garomaka (Union, Pangasinan) ; lang- 

 kuds (Iloko) ; manban (Tayabas, Leyte) ; matalbdk (Bataan, Bulacan) ; 

 mattapal (Isinai in Nueva Vizcaya) ; mini (Benguet), 



The split stems of this herb are used to weave baskets, 

 usually in combination with other materials. The stems are 

 occasionally used to make fish traps, hats, and for sewing nipa 

 shingles. 



Donax cannaeformis is a half-woody herb reaching a height 

 of 1 to 3 meters. The bases of the branches are somewhat 

 swollen. The leaves are usually rounded at the base and 

 pointed at the tip. The leaf bases are very long and sheathe 

 the stem. The flowers are white. The fruits are rounded and 

 about a centimeter in diameter. This plant is common and 

 widely distributed in the Philippines and also occurs in Java, 

 Celebes, and New Guinea. 



Family ORCHIDACEAE 



Genus DENDROBIUM 



DENDROBIUM CRUM ENATU M Sw. (Plate XXII). Irau. 



Local names: Ddpo (Tayabas) ; irdu (Camarines, Albay, Sorsogon) ; 

 karamosi (Ilocos Norte) ; karaiisi (Cagayan) ; karulai (Isabela) ; magimpdl, 

 magimapau (Bohol); manau (Leyte); sanggumai (Laguna). 



Fibers from the stems of this orchid are used as decorative 

 material on baskets and other articles. This use is very an- 



