THE ECONOMIC BIOLOGY OF PLANTS 457 



for spinning. Not only is cotton made into thread and cloth, 

 but into batting, surgical dressings, paper, celluloid, and gun 

 cotton. 



Flax which is the bast fiber of the bark of the plant of that name, 

 ranks next to cotton in value. From it are made linen thread, 

 cloth, and lace; canvas, duck, carpet warp, oil cloth, fine paper, 



FIG. 143. Iceland Moss (Cetraria islandica, Shield-lichen Family, Parmc- 

 liacece). Plant, natural size, growing nearly erect from dry earth. (Luerssen.) 

 Upper surface brownish or olive, pale below, often red-stained at the base; 

 "fruit" forming chestnut-colored patches on the uppermost lobes. Native 

 home, North America and Eurasia. From Sargent. 



and parchment. It is harder to prepare than cotton and is grown 

 chiefly in North Europe. 



Jute is the bast fiber of certain plants of India; it is not so fine 

 nor durable as linen but is made into burlap, sacking, webbing, 

 and cordage. 



Hemp is the bast fiber of a member of the nettle family and is 

 cultivated largely in Europe for its fiber uses, while in Asia an 

 intoxicating drug is prepared from the same plant. Hemp is coarse, 

 but stronger than flax and is used for sail cloth, cordage, and oakum. 



Manila fiber is obtained from the leaves (veins) of a banana- 



