6 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



bilobate, on which account (according to London) Plumier named this 

 genus of plants Bauhinia, after the two famous botanists John and 

 Caspar Bauhin. 



The bark of these plants is used for making rope and cordage. 



Another species, Bauhinia scandens, has also been used for ropes, but 

 the fibres, being hard and incohesive, are of little use, as they soon tear 

 asunder. 



Artichoke Fibre, Jerusalem (Heliantlms tuberosus, Composite). As 

 its name implies, it produces tubers that have been used like those from 

 the Cynara scolymus or artichoke. The Jerusalem artichoke is closely 

 allied to the sunflower, and is a native of the Brazils. The stem fibres 

 have been tried, but as yet are of little commercial importance, as only 

 a limited use has been found for them. 



Aquatic Grass or Rush (Lepisonia mucronata), belonging to the 

 order Cyperacese or Sedges. The split stems of this sedge-like plant are 

 used in large quantities in China, after a slight preparatory process, for 

 mat-making, for the packing of tea chests, and for sails. 



The plants grown near the sea produce the best fibres. 



Ban Ochra or Toja Fibres (Urena lobata, Malvaceae). The plant 

 belongs to the mallow family. It is a native of China, and was 

 introduced into England in 1771 as an ornamental plant. In India the 

 fibres have been used for sack-making as well as a substitute for flax. 



The leaves of the plant are very bluntly 3-lobed, velvety on both 

 surfaces, 7-nerved, and furnished with only one gland. 



Banana, Abyssinian (Musa ensete (Bruce), Musacese). The stem 

 fibres have been used in the manufacture of cordage, and for some other 

 purposes. Specimens of the fibre cleaned by means of Andrew's patent 

 fibre cleaning machine may be seen in No. 2 Museum of the Koyal 

 Gardens, Kew. 



Boombi (Xerotes longifolia, Juncacese). An Australian plant, the 

 leaves of which have been used for making bags. 



The name Xerotes has reference to the aridity of the plant's habitat. 

 It was introduced into England in 1796. 



Bowstring Hemp or Moorva Fibre (Sanseviera Zeylanica, Liliacea3). 

 This plant is a native of Ceylon, belonging to the endogenous " Day 

 Lily " family. It grows in China and Japan in maritime situations, 

 and is common in India. Fig. 3 is a photograph of the plant showing the 

 leaves springing from a rosette at the basal end of the rhizomes; the 

 leaves are equitant, each embracing the next younger one at the point 

 of insertion ; they grow from 1 to 2 feet long, and are plagiotropic in 

 growth, but concave and convex on their wide surfaces. 



The fibres are obtained by retting or by some simpler process. The 



