DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES 387 
Rope made from the bast possesses considerable strength and 
is considered as pliable, durable, and fitted for service throughout 
the year. King found it to possess a tensile strength of 630 
kilos per square centimeter. Immersion in water reduced the 
strength by about 26 per cent. 
The bark is also woven into hats. 
Bombycidendron vidalianum is a medium-sized tree reaching 
a diameter of 50 centimeters or more. The leaves are alternate, 
somewhat oval, pointed at the tip and rounded at the base, and 
8 to 15 centimeters long. The flowers are white and about 
8 centimeters in length. The fruits are oval, pointed, red, and 
about 4 centimeters long. The trunk is short and often crooked. 
The wood is rarely sawn. Its chief uses are for vehicle shafts 
and musical instruments. 
This species has been reported from Luzon, Mindoro, and Pa- 
lawan, and is common and widely distributed in Luzon. 
Genus HIBISCUS 
HIBISCUS TILIACEUS Linn. (Plate XXV). MALUBAGO. 
Local names: Alum (Zambales); bago (Ilocos Norte, Abra); balibago 
(Bontoc, Zambales, Tarlac, Bulacan, Manila, Tayabas, Polillo, Tarlac, Ley- 
te); balobdgo (Leyte); dangliw (Bulacan); danglog (Balabac Island) ; 
hdnot (Batanes Islands); malabdgo (Pangasinan, Sorsogon, Masbate, Ca- 
marines, Albay, Iloilo, Capiz, Mindoro, Lanao); malibadgo (Marinduque, 
Bataan, Tayabas, Davao); malubdgo (Camarines, Albay, Sorsogon); ma- 
pola (Batangas) ; mayambdago (Camarines, Surigao) ; mulabdgo (Cotabato). 
The bast fibers make a fairly strong rope. The fiber is used 
for string, for tying cattle, and for making hog traps. 
Hibiscus tiliaceus is a much-branched tree 4 to 12 meters in 
height. The leaves are 10 to 15 centimeters long, alternate, 
hairy, somewhat rounded, the apex pointed, the base heart- 
shaped. The flowers are yellow with a purple center. The 
petals are about 5 centimeters long and wide. 
This species is common throughout the Philippines. It is very 
easily propagated by means of cuttings. 
Genus MALACHRA 
MALACHRA CAPITATA Jacq. BAKEMBAKES. 
Local names: Annabo (Union); bakembdakes (Abra, Ilocos Sur, Union) ; 
bulbulin (Pampanga); buluhan, bulubulihan (Cavite); labug-labug (Iloilo, 
Occidental Negros) ; sipit-ulang (Bulacan) ; pdang-baliwis (Manila, Rizal). 
The bast is strong and is used in the manufacture of rope. 
Watt * says that the fiber is excellent, 8 to 9 feet long, and that 
experts have declared it little, if at all, inferior to jute. 
* Watt, G., Commercial products of India. 
