352 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 
for the manufacture of sleeping mats, floor mats, and to a less 
extent for hats, slippers, tobacco cases, cushions, etc. The 
stems are used either whole or split. After being gathered 
they are bleached for several days by spreading in the sun. 
They cannot be woven when too dry as they are then brittle. 
Fimbristylis globulosa is widely distributed in the Philippines 
and although of somewhat local occurrence, is frequently found 
in great abundance. It occurs at low altitudes in the settled 
areas, and grows in low, wet, swampy places and in rice lands. 
In favorable habitats it is said to attain sometimes a height 
of 3 meters, but is usually less than half this height. This 
species is much more common in the central and southern 
Philippines than in Luzon. It is claimed that when once 
established in rice lands, it is difficult to eradicate; but in spite 
of this it would seem that, in some places, its cultivation would 
be justified as a source of material for mats. 
Genus RHYNCHOSPORA 
RHYNCHOSPORA CORYMBOSA (L.) Britt. Raciuv. 
Local names: Agds (Bisaya, Bikol); bdriu-bdriu, ragiu-diu, ragiu, 
rakido, piso-piso (Bikol). 
In the provinces of southern Luzon this sedge is utilized to 
some extent in the manufacture of mats, sandals, baskets, and 
screens. The stems are used either whole or split. From an 
economic standpoint this plant is probably of little value. 
Rhynchospora corymbosa is a coarse sedge, about 1 meter in 
height. The stems are distinctly triangular and the leaves broad 
and long. This species is widely distributed in open, wet places 
at low and medium altitudes. 
Genus SCIRPIODENDRON 
SCIRPIODENDRON GHAERI (Gaertn.) Merr. GAAS. 
Local name: Gdas (Bisaya). 
In Leyte the leaves of this sedge are used to some extent in 
making hats, but the material is apparently of inferior quality. 
Scirpiodendron ghaeri is the largest and coarsest sedge in the 
Philippines, greatly resembling a narrow-leaved pandan in ap- 
pearance. The leaves are from 1 to 4 meters in length and 
very numerous. The edges are armed with numerous short 
spines. The fruits are distinctly ridged, over a centimeter in 
length, and borne in compact clusters. subtended by large leaf- 
like bracts. The plant is gregarious and often found in large 
dauantities in open ravines, along small streams, in swamps at 
low altitudes, and sometimes around the borders of lakes. 
