DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES 353 
Genus SCIRPUS 
SCIRPUS GROSSUS L. f. TIkIv. 
Local names: Agds, bangkudng (Bikol); baga-ds, baki-bdki (Bisaya) ; 
ragiudiu (Camarines); tikug (Agusan); tikiu, titiu (Tagalog). 
The whole stems of this sedge are used to a slight extent in 
making thick sleeping mats, and the split stems for making 
fine mats. The stems are also used for making special types of 
bags or baskets. 
Scirpus grossus is one of the coarsest sedges found in the 
Philippines. It has triangular stems up to 2 meters in height. 
The large inflorescences are subtended by broad leaflike bracts 
up to 60 centimeters in length. This species is abundant in 
open swamps at low altitudes, and is widely distributed in the 
Phitippines. 
SCIRPUS LACUSTRIS Linn. TIKER. 
Local name: Tiker (Iloko). 
This species occurs in northern Luzon, where it is utilized 
for weaving mats. In Formosa it is said to be cultivated for 
this purpose. 
Scirpus lacustris grows in swamps, and in the shallow ponds 
of the Ilocos provinces and Cagayan. The rounded stems are 
a meter or more in height. 
This species has been reported only from northern Luzon. 
Family ARACEAE 
In the Philippines, as in other tropical countries, there are 
many monocotyledonous vines which climb up in the trees and 
send down aérial roots, which may stretch from the tops of tall 
trees to the ground. These air roots are frequently very stout 
and in their natural state are used for tying purposes, or are 
variously prepared and used industrially. In the Philippines, 
the air roots used are chiefly those of aroids. Woodsmen have 
undoubtedly used air roots for tying purposes for ages, but it 
has remained for the public schools to show that they are useful 
for industrial purposes. They are employed chiefly in the man- 
ufacture of baskets. They were first tried for baskets in the 
schools of the Bikol peninsula, and the Bikol name “amlong”’ 
has come into general school use. 
The only part of the roots used in making baskets is the inner 
part or central cylinder. This cylinder should be removed from 
the surrounding tissue immediately after collection, as it is then 
easier to pull out. This, moreover, obviates the necessity of 
carrying superfluous tissue. The central cylinder furnishes a 
strong, round, pliable material with a uniform diameter. It is 
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