396 PHILIPPINE FIBER PLANTS 
attempts in India to make this fiber a commercial success have 
not succeeded. 
Abroma fastuosa is a shrub or small tree. The leaves and 
stems are covered with stiff, irritating hairs. The leaves are 
alternate, heart-shaped, 10 to 30 centimeters in length, and with 
toothed margins. The flowers are yellow and about 5 centi- 
meters in diameter. The fruits are thin-walled, five-angled 
capsules. 
This species is widely distributed at low and medium altitudes 
in the settled areas and brush lands of the Philippines. It is 
sometimes cultivated. 
Genus COMMERSONIA 
COMMERSONIA BARTRAMIA (L.) Merr. KAKAAG. 
Local names: Anitap (Itneg) ; kakacdg (Iloko). 
The crude bast strips examined by King “varied from light 
ochraceous salmon to a warm buff.”’” Rope made from this plant 
is said to be used considerably for general purposes. King 
found the dry rope to have a mean tensile strength of 392 kilos 
per square centimeter. Wetting the rope decreased its strength 
32 per cent. However, King says that the residents of Benguet 
state that this rope is more durable during the rainy season than 
any of the other bast ropes which are commonly used. 
Commersonia bartramia is a small tree. The leaves are alter- 
nate, hairy, heart-shaped at the base, pointed at the tip, 12 to 18 
centimeters long, and with toothed margins. The flowers are 
small, white, and are borne on compound inflorescences. The 
fruits are rounded capsules which are densely covered with 
slender, soft, hairy processes. 
This species occurs at low altitudes throughout the Philippines. 
Genus HELICTERES 
HELICTERES HIRSUTA Lour. TONGTONGKING. 
Local names: Balibago, bulbilin (Pampanga); buntot-usd (Rizal) ; 
danglin-adso (Bisaya); danglin-kalabéu (Abra, Nueva Ecija); kakadb, 
kakadg (Union, Abra, Pangasinan); kollokollét ti baé (Benguet) ; lailai- 
ginan (Rizal); malamansanita (Ilocos Norte, Tagalog); malatakén 
(Abra) ; pakin-bakir (lloko); sagingsagingan (Tagalog); sarnugar da da- 
dakkél (Ilocos Sur); talakau (Negrito in Pampanga) ; talésan (Tayabas) ; 
tolosan (lloko) ; tongtongking (Amburayan). 
The crude strips of this fiber are light buff, and harsh and stiff. 
King found that the tensile strength of rope made from them 
averaged 438 kilos per square centimeter. Immersion in water 
for twenty-four hours decreased the strength about 10-per cent. 
The rope appears to be durable during the rainy season. 
