DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES 365 
waste left after the fiber is stripped is a promising source of 
paper pulp. 
Abaka has been introduced into other tropical countries, but 
up to the present time practically the entire supply of the 
fiber has come from the Philippine Islands. In 1918 the 
exports amounted to 169,260,377 kilos, valued at 116,583,100 
pesos. 
Family ZINGIBERACEAE 
Genus AMOMUM 
AMOMUM sp. 
The leaf stalks of this plant are split and made into a light 
rope. King found this rope, when wet, to have a tensile 
strength of 325 kilos per square centimeter. 
Family MARANTACEAE 
Genus DONAX 
DONAX CANNAEFORMIS (Forst.) K. Sch. (Plate XXII). BAMBAN. 
Local names: Aratan (Gaddanes in Nueva Vizcaya) ; bambdn or banban 
(Cagayan, Pampanga, Bataan, Tarlac, Cavite, Laguna, Tayabas, Mindoro, 
Camarines, Sorsogon, Albay, Iloilo, Capiz, Antique, Cebu, Occidental Ne- 
gros, Oriental Negros, Bohol, Palawan); barasbardsan (Iloko in Tarlac) ; 
bonbén, (Cavite, Mindoro); darwmaka (Union, Iloko in Nueva Vizcaya, 
Zambales, Tarlac, Camiguin Island) ; garomaka (Union, Pangasinan) ; lang- 
kuds (lloko); manban (Tayabas, Leyte); matalbak (Bataan, Bulacan) ; 
mattapal (Isinai in Nueva Vizcaya) ; mini (Benguet). 
The split stems of this herb are used to weave baskets, 
usually in combination with other materials. The stems are 
occasionally used to make fish traps and hats, and for sewing nipa 
shingles. 
Donax cannaeformis is a half-woody herb reaching a height 
of 1 to 3 meters. The bases of the branches are somewhat 
swollen. The leaves are usually rounded at the base and 
pointed at the tip. The leaf bases are very long and sheathe 
the stem. The flowers are white. The fruits are rounded and 
about a centimeter in diameter. This plant is common and 
widely distributed in the Philippines and also occurs in Java, 
Celebes, and New Guinea. 
Family ORCHIDACEAE 
Genus DENDROBIUM 
DENDROBIUM CRUMENATUM Sw. (Plate XXIT). ITRAU. 
Local names: Ddpo (Tayabas); irdu (Camarines, Albay, Sorsogon) ; 
karamosi (Ilocos Norte) ; karausi (Cagayan) ; karulai (Isabela) ; magimpal, 
magimapau (Bohol); manau (Leyte); sanggumai (Laguna). 
Fibers from the stems of this orchid are used as decorative 
material on baskets and other articles. This use is very an- 
