HENBANE OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 211 



Hemp, Canada (Apocynum cannahimim), a perennial herb 

 of the Dogbane family (Apocynaceic), native of North America, 

 having running roots from which rise numerous erect branching 

 stems 2 to 3 feet high, which contain strong fibre, of which the 

 Indians make twine, fishing-nets, bags, and lines, and even a 

 woven fabric like linen. A. androscemifoliitm^ an allied species, 

 also contains fibre. 



Hemp, Kentucky. — Urtica canadensis and U. cannahina, 

 strong-growing perennial herbs of the Nettle family (Urticacese), 

 natives of Canada and the Northern United States. They con- 

 tain a strong fibre, which is known by the name given above. 



Hemp, Manilla, the fibre of Micsa textilis, a perennial of the 

 Plantain and Banana family (Musacese), native of the Philippine 

 Islands, where it is largely cultivated in groves, and attains a 

 height of 20 to 30 feet. It is also cultivated in India and other 

 countries for its fibre, which is obtained by hand labour, and 

 when dressed consists of two qualities. The finer is made into 

 beautiful shawls, and the coarser into ropes. In 1880 over 

 407,000 cwts. were imported to this country alone. 



Hemp, Sunn, a name in India for the fibre of Crotalaria 

 juncea, a branching shrub of the Bean family (Leguminosae), 

 native of India. It grows from 8 to 12 feet high, with simple 

 white downy leaves and pretty yellow flowers, but when grown 

 under cultivation the seeds are sown so thickly that the plants 

 rise with a single unbranched stem. When perfect they are cut 

 and put in water for two or three days, which loosens the fibre 

 from the bark and wood. The fibre is then cleaned by beating 

 and washing. It is very strong, and made into ropes, canvas, etc. 



Hemp, Jubbulpore (Crotalaria tenuifolia), a plant closely 

 allied to the preceding. 



Henbane {Hyoscyamus nigei'), an annual or biennial, erect, 

 weedy plant of the Nightshade family (Solanace*), with soft 

 broad leaves, growing both in cultivated and waste places. The 

 biennial kind is much valued in medicine, the chief preparation 

 being an extract of the leaves, which is used in the place of 

 opium, also by oculists for dilating the pupil of the eye. 



