g2 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 



Genus SI DA 

 SI DA ACUTA Burm. f. Takling-BAKA. 



Local names: Attdi-na-bdka (Ibanak) ; basbdsot (Bontoc) ; escobilla 

 (Laguna, Bisaya) ; herbara (Ilocos Sur) ; kashile (Bulacan) ; maratakUm- 

 bdka (Iloko in Tarlac) ; salik (Basilan) ; surusighid (Camarines) ; takkim- 

 bdka (Ilocos Norte, Abra, Isabela, Pangasinan, Union) ; taking-bdka 

 (Tarlac) ; takling-bdka (Pangasinan) ; ucmalisin (Bulacan) ; ualis-ualisan 

 (Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan). 



The fiber of Sid a acuta is very pretty; its color marguerite 

 yellow. It is fine, filamentous, soft, and very lustrous, having 

 an appearance like silk. It possesses only medium strength, 

 but makes a handsome rope. Ilokos consider this rope a superior 

 product on account of its durability, its pleasing color, and its 

 gloss. It is used for general purposes and particularly where 

 nonstaining fiber is desired. King tested rope made from fiber 

 which had been retted about ten days in fresh water and sub- 

 sequently cleaned. He found it to have a tensile strength of 

 475 kilos per square centimeter, which wetting increased about 

 6 per cent. 



The stems are used for making brooms and baskets. 



Sicla acuta is a slender shrub reaching a meter in height. It 

 has elongated, slender branches. The leaves are alternate, 3 to 

 5 centimeters long, and with toothed margins. The flowers are 

 yellow and about 1.3 centimeters in diameter. 



This species is abundant in wet places throughout the Phil- 

 ippines. V 



SIDA CORDIFOLIA L. 



Local name: Albahdca (Spanish in Surigao). 



According to Watt,* this plant yields a fine, white fiber. 



Sida cordifolia is an erect, half-woody shrub, 0.4 to 1 meter 

 in height. It is covered with soft, velvety hairs mixed with 

 which are numerous longer hairs. The leaves are alternate, 

 heart-shaped at the base, somewhat rounded at the apex, with 

 toothed margins, and from 1.5 to 4.5 centimeters in length. The 

 flowers are yellow and occur in the axils of the leaves. 



This species occurs in open waste places and is common and 

 widely distributed in the Philippines. 



SIDA MYSORENSIS W. & A. Lagkitan. 



Local names: D among -mabdho, lagkitan, mdy^bas (Rizal) ; mdrabas (Ba- 

 taan) ; the last two corruptions of Span, "malvas". 



The bast fiber from this species is used for making rope. 

 Sida mysorensis is a hairy shrub about a meter in height. 



Watt, Commercial products of India. 



