70 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 



fruits are very rough and 1.5 to 2 centimeters long; the seeds 

 about 1 centimeter long. 



This species is fairly common in the forests, and is distributed 

 from northern Luzon to Basilan. 



Genus ROUREA 



ROUREA VOLUBILIS (Blanco) Merr. Kamaksa. 



Local names: Baralang (Cagayan) ; hitog (Benguet) ; kamaksa (Rizal, 

 La^na) ; pdlosdnto (Pangasinan) . 



This vine is used for tying fish corrals. The fruits are also 

 used for poisoning dogs. 



Rourea volubiUs is a vine common and widely distributed 

 in the Philippine forests. The leaves are alternate, smooth, 

 somewhat oval in shape, rounded at the base, and have pro- 

 minent projections at the tips. The flowers are small, white, 

 fragrant, and occur in large numbers on compound inflorescences. 



Family LEGUMINOSAE 



Genus ABRUS 

 A BR US PRECATORIUS L. Kansasaga or Prayer-BEAN. 



Local names: Agunandng, agunyanydng (Zamboanga) ; hdhai (Ticao) ; 

 hugayong or bugayung (Camiguin Is., Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Tarlac, 

 Pangasinan, Zambales) ; hughugayong (Union) ; kansasdga (Pampanga, 

 Tarlac, Camarines) ; kasasdga (Pampanga, Bataan) ; lago (Culion Is.); 

 Idsa (Batanes Islands) ; matang-uldyig (Pampanga) ; sdga (Laguna, Ba- 

 tangas, Tayabas) ; sagambdging (Polillo Is.); sagasdga (Bulacan, Bataan, 

 Rizal, Manila, Batangas, Tayabas) ; ulangid (Cuyo Islands). 



According to Watt,'^ this plant yields beautiful bast fibers. 

 These fibers are said to be suitable for cordage. 



Abrns precatorius is a slender, branched, annual vine which 

 reaches a length of 9 meters or less. The leaves are alternate, 

 5 to 10 centimeters in length, and compound with twenty to 

 forty leaflets, which are 1 to 3 centimeters long. The flowers 

 are borne in axillary racemes which are usually shorter than 

 the leaves. The flowers are numerous, often crowded, pink 

 to pale purple or salmon, and about 1 centimeter long. The 

 pod is oblong, 2.5 to 5 centimeters long, about 1.5 centimeters 

 broad, and contains three to five seeds which are shiny, 6 

 millimeters long, and partly black and partly scarlet. 



This species is common and widely distributed in Philippine 

 thickets. 



Watt, Commercial products of India. 



