354 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 
used either entire or split. Amlong is white, brown, or black, 
depending on the species from which it is obtained. Brown 
and black amlong can be bleached by treating with a solution 
of sodium peroxide. 
Genus EPIPREMNUM 
EPIPREMNUM spp. 
This genus is very similar to Raphidophora in appearance and 
in the situations in which it grows. Material secured from 
the air roots is used for weaving baskets. It is apparently 
mostly white. 
Epipremnum is distributed from Luzon to Mindanao. 
Genus POTHOIDIUM 
POTHOIDIUM LOBBIANUM Schott. BALONGKAHINAI. 
Local names: Ariman (Cagayan); balongkahinai (Negros Occidental) ; 
baralta (Cavite, Rizal, Batangas); magutapilak (Butuan); malagayaman 
(Zambales). 
This species is used as tying material for fish corrals. It is 
collected in considerable quantities in Negros and some of it 
reaches the Iloilo market. 
Pothoidium lobbianum is very similar in appearance to Pothos, 
and grows in similar situations. It can be distinguished from 
Pothos by the fact that the inflorescences are compound, while 
those of Pothos are simple. 
This species is apparently common and widely distributed in 
the Philippines. 
Genus POTHOS 
POTHOS spp. (Plate XVI). 
Local names: Bagi; malagayaman (Tayabas); bagu-balanak (Samar) ; 
mala-ang lako lakop (Samar); palipe (Camarines); tibatib (Bulacan) ; 
uarat-uarat (Camarines). 
The different species of Pothos are vines which climb up the 
trunks of trees and produce numerous, long, tough, aérial roots 
which are uniform in diameter and frequently straight. The 
central cylinders of these aérial roots are extensively used in the 
Philippines in making coiled baskets. The color varies from 
white to brown or even black, depending on the species. 
This genus is characterized by its peculiar leaves; the petioles 
being, for the most part, leaflike. In some species they are 
broader and longer than the blades and in others smaller than 
the blades. The joint between the blade and petiole is, however, 
always very evident. 
Pothos is distributed in forests throughout the Philippines. 
