PAPER FIBRE PLANTS. 127 



the stems has been used for paper pulp, and the fibres, after heckling, 

 for yarns similar to those of flax and hemp. 



Mallow, Common (Malva sylvestris, Malvaceae). The fibres of the 

 roots and stems of this British plant, after undergoing the several 

 processes of crushing, boiling, stripping, washing, and squeezing, have 

 been utilised for paper-making purposes. 



Arrow Head (Sagittaria sagittifolia, Alismacese). This is a British 

 aquatic plant that grows in rivers, ponds, and canals. The plant is a 

 Monocotyledon. The fibrous material in the leaves has been used for 

 paper-making. The plant is hardly common enough to become of 

 general use, and its distribution is somewhat local. 



Goat's Rue (Galega orientalis, Leguminosse). This is a leguminous 

 plant, a native of the Levant, introduced into England as an ornamental 

 plant in 1801. The stem, leaves, and root have been utilised for the 

 making of paper pulp. Another species, G. officinalis, has also been used. 



Flax and Hemp plants have both been employed in paper-making to 

 some extent, but as they are much better known as cordage plants, they 

 are described in an earlier section. 



Numerous foreign plants have attracted the attention of the paper- 

 maker, one of the most important being Stipa tenacissima, or the 

 esparto grass or halfa a well-known grass indigenous to North America, 

 Spain, and Northern Africa. 



Straw has been used in paper-making, but is rather difficult to 

 manage, owing to the numerous nodes in the stem and the cost of 

 bleaching. 



Spruce Fir and wood obtained from the Pine stems are much used 

 for paper-making. The wood of spruce (Abies) is the easier to work up ; 

 it has a smaller number of resin canals than those of the pine, and 

 perhaps fewer nodes. 



The Aspen (Populus tremula) and the Lime (Tilid) give a good 

 white pulp. Birch (Betula alba) and Beech (Fagus sylvatica) are some- 

 times cut up for wood pulp. Machines have been made that are 

 capable of turning out 2500 square yards of paper per hour. 



Banana Fibre or Adam's Apple (Musa sapient urn, Musaceae). 

 This plant is a native of the West Indies. It differs from the Plantain 

 tree in having its stalks marked with dark purple spots and stripes; 

 it has also a shorter and a rounder fruit. 



The fibres are fine and repeatedly crossed and intersected, resem- 

 bling a mock leno fabric. 



Fig. 86 is an example of the naturally woven fibres of the banana. 

 It has been used for paper-making, and by the natives of the West 

 Indies for the weaving of bags. The large shuttles used in the weaving 



