66 TEXTILE FIBRES. 



from the plant known as the Ita or /Eta palm ; the cuticle of the 

 leaves is used for cordage and hammock-making. This palm is a 

 native of Surinam, and was introduced into England in 1816. The 

 leaves are digitaliform, or divided deeply down to the base ; the 

 segmental ribs, when detached, have been used for twine and 

 cord-making, and the petioles for canoes and baskets in British 

 Guiana. The male spadix of the plant is flexuose and over a foot 

 long. 



Touchardia (Touchardia latifolia, Urticacese). A native of the 

 Hawaiian Islands, a shrubby plant nearly allied to Bcelimeria nivea. 

 This plant produces a fibre that is easily detached from the plant. 

 The stem fibres are adapted for cordage purposes. 



Tucum Fibre (Astrocaryum Tucuma, Palmacese). This plant was 

 introduced into England from the Amazon river in 1840. 



In South America a very fine fibre is obtained from this species of 

 palm. The fibre is held in high esteem. Dr. Morris says : " A fine 

 fibre is extracted also from the leaflets of Aslrocaryum Tucuma in 

 tropical South America. This is knitted by hand into a compact web of 

 so fine a texture as to occupy two persons three or four months in its 

 completion. The handsome hammocks afterwards made from the web 

 sell for 3 each, or double that amount." 



Urera Fibre ( Urera tenax, Urticacese). The fibres of the Urera plant 

 are made into thread or cordage. They have a resemblance to China 

 grass, but are not so tenacious. The plant from which Urera fibres are 

 obtained is a tree-like shrub, Urera tenax, belonging to the nettle family. 

 It is a native of Natal. 



Vanda Felt ( Vanda teres, Orchidacese). This plant is a caulescent 

 orchis with very handsome flowers. It is remarkable for the very fine 

 felted hairs which serve to carry the seeds to suitable places of growth. 

 They are highly hygroscopic, and readily affected by moisture, differing 

 in this respect from the animal hairs employed in making felts. Prof. 

 Anton Kerner von Marilaun, speaking of the feltose seeds of the Vanda, 

 says : " The hair-like cells in question are woven together into a sort 

 of felt. They are extremely hygroscopic, and twist and twine about in 

 a curious manner, if the slightest change of condition in respect of 

 moisture occurs. When the valves of the capsule move apart under the 

 influence of a dry wind, an active movement is simultaneously initiated 

 in the matted hairs. The felt becomes to a certain extent puffed up, 

 and consequently it squeezes out the valves of the capsule, and drags the 

 seeds, which are imbedded amongst the hairs, from the interior to the 

 surface of the capsule, where they are liable to be blown away by the 

 least breath of wind. This happens, as was said, when a dry wind is 



