78 
from the aes as the fiber breaks more readily. ‘Banana 
the fabric i is called is in great demand by Filipino 
a spider’s web, is made from the leaves of the pineapple plant. 
object of some kind such as a piece of pottery, bamboo, iron 
and the like 
ber of provinces Agave cantula is the species of sisal 
usually ae The fibers are obtained by retting. The 
fibers of bowstring hemp, Zansevieria zeylanica, are occasionally 
used for commercial purposes. 
MISCELLANEOUS FIBERS 
The kapok tree, Cetba pentandra, is found in all provinces in 
the Philippines, but its silky cotton-like fibers are gathered for 
trade or export principally in the Visayas. The fibers are 
excellent as filling material for mattresses, pillows, cushions and 
life preservers. 
Cotton was cultivated formerly extensively in a number of 
provinces in the Islands, but its present cultivation is tater 
Philippines, the bulk of cotton goods used in the Islands is 
im 
orted. 
The stalks of Dendrobium crumenatum, an orchid with a fluted 
sun ai the same result. 
x cannaeformis, known to the Filipinos as banban, is 
found naa hout the Philippines, and is used much like the 
petioles of palms for obtaining light to dark-brown splints in 
basketry, 
Bast FIBERS 
here are a great many species of plants in the Philippines 
belonging especially to the family of Tiliaceae, Malvaceae and 
