DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES 79 



Rope made from the bast possesses considerable strength and 

 is considered as pliable, durable, and fitted for service throughout 

 the year. King found it to possess a tensile strength of 630 

 kilos per square centimeter. Immersion in water reduced the 

 strength by about 26 per cent. 



The bark is also woven into hats. 



Bomhycidendron vidalianiim is a medium-sized tree reaching 

 a diameter of 50 centimeters or more. The leaves are alternate, 

 somewhat oval, pointed at the tip and rounded at the base, and 

 8 to 15 centimeters long. The flowers are white and about 

 8 centimeters in length. The fruits are oval, pointed, red, and 

 about 4 centimeters long. The trunk is short and often crooked. 

 The wood is rarely sawn. Its chief uses are for vehicle shafts 

 and musical instruments. 



This species has been reported from Luzon, Mindoro, and Pa- 

 lawan, and is common and widely distributed in Luzon. 



Genus HIBISCUS 



HIBISCUS TILIACEUS Linn. (Plate XXV). Malubago. 



Local names: Alum (Zambales) ; bdgo (Ilocos Norte, Abra) ; balibdgo 

 (Bontoc, Zambales, Tarlac, Bulacan, Manila, Tayabas, Polillo, Tarlac, Ley- 

 te) ; balobdgo (Leyte) ; dangliiv (Bulacan) ; danglog (Balabac Island) ; 

 hdnot (Batanes Islands) ; malabdgo (Pangasinan, Sorsogon, Masbate, Ca- 

 marines, Albay, Iloilo, Capiz, Mindoro, Lanao) ; malibdgo (Marinduque, 

 Bataan, Tayabas, Davao) ; malubago (Camarines, Albay, Sorsogon) ; ma- 

 pold (Batangas) ; may ainbd go (Camarines, Surigao) ; midabdgo (Cotabato). 



The bast fibers make a fairly strong rope. The fiber is used 

 for string, for tying cattle, and for making hog traps. 



Hibiscus tiliaceus is a much-branched tree 4 to 12 meters in 

 height. The leaves are 10 to 15 centimeters long, alternate, 

 hairy, somewhat rounded, the apex pointed, the base heart- 

 shaped. The flowers are yellow with a purple center. The 

 petals are about 5 centimeters long and wide. 



This species is common throughout the Philippines. It is very 

 easily propagated by means of cuttings. 



Genus MALACHRA 



MALACHRA CAPITATA Jacq. Bakembakes. 



Local names: Anyiabo (Union); bakembdkes (Abra, Ilocos Sur, Union); 



bidbulin (Pampanga) ; bidiihan, bulubiduhan (Cavite) ; labug-labug (Iloilo, 



Occidental Negros) ; sipit-uldng (Bulacan); pdang-baliivis (Manila, Rizal). 



The bast is strong and is used in the manufacture of rope. 

 Watt ^ says that the fiber is excellent, 8 to 9 feet long, and that 

 experts have declared it little, if at all, inferior to jute. 



Watt, G., Commercial products of India. 



