FIBER PLANTS 181 



months and the yield of fiber averages 2 tons per acre. 



The Cuba bast (H. elatus) is a tree native to the West Indies 

 and attaining a height of 50 feet. In order to obtain fiber the 

 tree is cut and the bark is then peeled off. From the bark a 

 coarse bast fiber is obtained suitable for cordage and cheap 

 bags. This fiber is also called Mountain Mahoe. Occasional 

 mention in literature on fiber plants of H. arboreus perhaps re- 

 fers to this species. Okra (H. esculentus) produces a long 

 white smooth fiber which is not very strong. In India this fiber 

 is used for rope, sacking, and paper. The yield is usually not 

 greater than 180 pounds per acre. A company was once organ- 

 ized in Texas to extract okra fiber, but the attempt was later 

 abandoned as impractical. 



Roselle (H. sabdariffa), a native of the West Indies, was 

 long cultivated in India for fiber without making use of the 

 fruit of this plant. The fiber is obtained by retting the stems 

 in water for 15 to 20 days. The yield is about 600 pounds per 

 acre of dry fiber. Roselle fiber is quite extensively used for 

 cordage and paper. Fiber is light brown in color and some- 

 what stronger than jute. Majagua (H. tiliaceus) occurs widely 

 in Central America, South America, India, and the Pacific 

 Islands. Among the Polynesians this straggling bush is called 

 hau. The fiber obtained from the bast of the bark is used for 

 rope in Trinidad and Peru. It is weaker than jute and, as ordi- 

 narily obtained, ranges in length from 4 to 6 feet. 



Various other species of Hibiscus, as well as the related 

 tree Thespesia populnea, called milo by the Polynesians, have 

 been used as sources of fiber. Tronadora (Abutilon incanum), 

 a native of Mexico, is a low shrub which attains a height of 8 

 feet. The stems are retted in water 3 to 4 days and stripped 

 by hand. From the bast a very durable fiber is obtained, useful 

 in manufacturing hammocks, ropes, and nets. A. indicum oc- 

 curs quite commonly in India, Burma, Mauritius, and South 

 Africa. The bast, which is obtained in the same manner as 

 were the last named species, is used for cordage. A. periploci- 



