142 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIEI DISTRICT. 



CHAP. VII. Marsdenia tenacissima. The stems yield a very superior fibre. 



Some of it prepared some years ago by me was nearly as fine as silk 



PLrNTs^ and very glossy and strong. 



Drags. 



N.O. URTICACE^. 



Girardinia Leschenaultii. Contains a fine silk-like fibre used by 

 the Hill tribes for making thread. Can be advantageously _^cultivated 

 and will yield two or more crops per annum. 



Antiaris innoxia. The inner bark yields a mesh of strong fibi'ous 

 matting, which, is made into bags by some Hill tribes. 



N.O. MUSACE^. 

 MuSA ornata. All the plantains contain a quantity of very superior 

 fibre. 



N.O. PALMACE^. 

 Ph(enix farinifera. Eng. Date Tree. DuJc. [ 8andole-ka-jhar. 



Tarn. Ishan-chedi. 

 Leaf stalks yield a strong fibre. 



N.O. PANDANE^. 

 Pandanus odoratissimds. Eng. Fragrant Screwpine. Duh. Kedgi. 



Tarn. Tazham. Kan. Kyadage. 

 Yields a very strong and superior fibre. 



N.O. LILIACE^. 

 Sanseviera Zetlanica. Eng. Bowstring Hemp. DiiJc. Murgali. 



Tam. Marul. 

 Yields large quantities of very sti'ong fibre and might easily be 

 cultivated. 



III.— DRUGS.i 



Owing to the large number of articles coming under this class, it 

 will not be possible to do more than simply specify their action as 

 medicines. 



N.O. MENISPERMACE^. 

 Anamirta cocculus. Eng. Cocculus Indicus seeds. Duh. Kakmari- 



ke-binj. Tarn. Kakkai-kolli-virai. Kan. Kakamari-bija. 

 Poisonous internally ; used generally as an ointment. 

 TiNospORA CORDIFOLIA. Diili. Gul-bel- Tam. Shindil-kodi. Kan. 



Amruta-balli. 

 Tonic and diuretic. 



^ The Superintendent of the Botanical Ganleus, Ootacamaud, is now cultivat- 

 ing experimentally various exotic medicinal plants, such as Khubavb, Jalap, 

 Peppermint and Ipecacuan, and there is every prospect of his shortly being able 

 to supply these in quantities sufficient to meet the large demands of the Medical 

 Department. 



