44 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



and was introduced into this country for ornamental purposes in 1818. 

 It is a member of the Pandanacese, Screw pine family. The leaves 

 or fronds are flabelliform, with from three to five segments, and in shape 

 resemble a fan. 



In Ecuador, South America, the finest hats are made from fibres 

 of the unexpanded leaves called " Torquilla." It is necessary to gather 

 the leaves while very young, and to remove the veins and ribs. The 

 membrane is separated and reduced to shreds; it is then exposed in 

 the sun for a few days, and after immersion in boiling water it becomes 

 white and ultimately bleached. The straw or paga is sent to different 

 places, and manufactured by the Indians into hats, hammocks, and cigar 

 cases. Panama hats are made in Panama, from which industry the name 

 has probably arisen ; they are also made at Costa Rica. Baskets have 

 been made of the petioles of the leaves, which are first dyed with colours. 

 The name Carludovica was given to commemorate the name of Charles 

 IV., King of Spain, and Luiza, his queen, both of whom were patrons 

 of botany. 



Parao Fibre (Hibiscus tiliaceus, Malvaceae). Of this tree Mr. R. T. 

 Simons, H.M Consul in Tahiti (in 1895), reported as follows: "A 

 most useful tree, supplying the natives with timber for his boats, 

 sidings for his dwellings, and with a very strong and valuable rope from 

 its fibre, which are divested of their leaves, cut into lengths, tied together 

 and soaked for a week or ten days. The outer bark is then easily stripped 

 off, and immediately under is found the layer of fibres, which, when 

 dried, are ready for use. The tree grows luxuriantly and in abundance 

 in the Society Islands, but the cost of the preparation of its fibre is 

 unknown, as that material has never been purchased for export and 

 has so far been only used locally." 



Patwa or Mohwal (Bauhinia Vahlii, Leguminosse). A climbing 

 plant, indigenous to the Himalayas and Assam. When the plant is cut 

 down the stems are collected and their outer bark taken off, leaving 

 the bast fibres^ separated. These are then immersed in Avater and 

 twisted into ropes or cordage. The plant has been used for making 

 vegetable bridges in the Himalayas. Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker 

 mentions this plant in his delightful Himalayan Journals. 



Payo or Bamboo (Pao Lepcha) (Bambusa arundinacea, Gramineae). 

 Of this plant Sir J. D. Hooker, in his Himalayan Journals, says : " At 

 about 4000 feet the great bamboo ( * Pao Lepcha ') abounds. It 

 flowers every year, which is not the case with all others of this genus, 

 most of which flower profusely over large tracts of country once in a 

 great many years, and then die away, their place being supplied by 

 seedlings which grow with immense rapidity. This well-known fact is 



