15 



Tropical and North America, aud Eastern Asia. The economic CASE 

 value of the plants is chiefly for their fibres. 10. 



No. 24, MtH-MDN-TUNG. Tubers of Ophiopogon japoni- 

 cuSf Ker. A low perennial with a creeping rhizome, producing 

 small elongated tubers which are sold in the Chinese drug 

 shops as a pectoral and tonic medicine. They have a sweet 

 taste, and an agreeable, aromatic smell. They are said to be 

 brought to Hankow in large quantities from the province of 

 Chekiang. 



No. 25. Sinhalese Mat, for couch, made of Bowstrincj 

 Hemp, the fibre from the leaves of Sansevieria zeylanica, 

 Willd. The plant is probably a native of Ceylon, India, and 

 Tropical Africa, and is found also in Mauritius, Jamaica, &c: 

 In Ceylon it is known as Neyanda, and in India as Moorva, 

 MooRGA, or Marool. The fibre is very tough and elastic, and 

 was used by the ancient Hindoos for bowstrings. Specimens 

 of the fibre are exhibited as well as rope, twine, &c. 



Samples of fibre of other species of Sansevieria are also 

 exhibited as follows : — S. guineensis, Willd., *S'. longiftora, 

 Sims., S. cylindrical Boj., S, Ehrhenbergii, Schwein., <fec. 

 (See Kew Bulletin, 1887, p. 1, and 1892, p. 129.) 



Iris Order {IridecB). A group of perennial herbs with 

 tuberous, or short creeping rhizomes, generally dispersed over 

 the new and old worlds, more abundant in temperate than in 

 tropical regions. The Order is familiar to us in the Yellcw 

 Flag and Crocus. 



No. 26. Orris Roots, the dried rhizomes of Iris fioren- 

 tina, L. A plant considered truly indigenous to the coast 

 region of Macedonia and the south-west shore of the Black 

 Sea. It is naturalised in the neighbourhood of Florence where, 

 with /. germanica, L., and /. pallida, Lam., it is largely cul- 

 tivated for the sake of its rhizomes. The two latter species, 

 indeed, are supposed to furnish the largest quantity of orris 

 root for exportation. It is known in Tuscany under the name 

 of Giaggiola. The rhizomes are dug up in August, trimmed, 

 peeled, and dried in the sun. The dealers who purchase them 

 from the peasants, separate them into different qualities. 



The principal use of orris root is as a perfume, in conse- 

 quence of its strong sme 11, resembling violets. "Essence of 

 violets" is prepared from it, and it is also used as an ingredient 

 in tooth powders. In France it is used for making issue peas. 



