234 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 
of from 3 to 9 meters. The leaves are about 2 or 3 meters long 
and about 5 to 8 centimeters wide. It is claimed that the fibers 
from this species are tougher than those from Pandanus radi- 
cans. The leaves are used for making coarse mats and baskets. 
PANDANUS DUBIUS Spreng. TABOAN. 
Local names: Bakong (Bohol); taboan (Surigao). 
This is a large pandan found in the southern Philippines. 
It is used locally for making coarse mats. 
PANDANUS LUZONENSIS Merr. ALASAS. 
Local names: Alasds (Zambales, Rizal); dasa (Rizal); pandan de China 
(Bulacan). 
This species is widely distributed in central Luzon. It reaches 
a height of about 7 meters. It is economically of little value, 
but the leaves are used for weaving baskets and mats. 
PANDANUS RADICANS Blanco. OYANGO. 
Local names: Olango (Leyte); owango (Surigao); oyangd (Albay) ; 
uyango (Sorsogon); wango (Bohol). 
This species is apparently widely distributed in the Philip- 
pines. It reaches a height of 8 meters, and has long, wide 
leaves and dark, brick-red fruits. It is used for making coarse 
mats, bags, and sometimes hats. According to Delgado, in the 
year 1750, fibers were extracted from the long prop roots and 
used for weaving a fine cloth; but Blanco, writing in 1837, 
states that these fibers were no longer utilized. In Mindanao 
the wood has been found to be excellent for the manufacture 
of splints used in making baskets; in fact, they are reported 
to be superior to rattans for this purpose. 
PANDANUS SABOTAN Blanco. (Plate VI). SABUTAN. 
Local name: Sabutdn (Laguna, Rizal, Tayabas). 
According to Mr. E. D. Merrill, the botanical status of this spe- 
cies is doubtful. It seems probable that it is a cultivated form 
or variety of the common and widely distributed Pandanus 
tectorius. This plant, from which the sabutan fiber is obtained, 
is well known and has been cultivated in Laguna province for 
at least two centuries. It greatly resembles the common Pan- 
danus tectorius in appearance, but the fruits have never been 
collected. The plant is from 2 to 4 meters in height. The 
leaves resemble those of Pandanus tectorius, but are of finer 
texture. Sabutan is cultivated in and about towns along the 
eastern and northern shores of Laguna de Bay, in parts of 
Tayabas province, and on the island of Polillo; but has never 
been found wild, although it not infrequently occurs where 
cultivation has been abandoned. It is easily propagated by 
axillary suckers which grow from the lower parts of the stems. 
