6U9 



also belongs here) ; Belgian Congo (var. Laurentii)^Stsinley 

 ville : Cultivated at Kew, Brussels Botanic Garden, Calcutta, 

 in Assam, etc. This species is stated to have been in cultivation 

 for over 150 years, confused for the greater part with a9, guineensis 

 (Kew Bull. I.e.); it is distinguished from S. metallica, Grer. & 

 Labr. {S. guineensis, Baker) chiefly by the narrower leaves. 



Yields a fibre suitable for cordage. 



Fibre obtained from this species in Assam (Nazira) was 

 described as well-prepared, w^hite, glossy, A\dth a staple of 

 average length, 4J ft. ; reported on as " of first-class quality, 

 superior to that usually seen on the London market, and would 

 meet with a ready sale," value (1903), £50-£55 per ton in 

 quantities of ten tons and upwards, small lots of lower value. 

 Another valuation was £33 per ton* An analysis made at the 

 Imperial Institute gave Moisture, 9 • per cent. ■ Ash, 0*6; 

 a-Hydrolysis (loss), 10-0; 6-Hydrolysis (loss), 12-6; Mercerisa- 

 tion (loss), 8-1; Acid purification (loss), 2-3; Nitration (gain)^ 

 31-3; and Cellulose, 74-4 per cent. (Col. Rep. jVIisc. No. 58, 

 1909, p. 101). This analysis compared with that of a sample 

 of fibre — 3 ft.-3 ft. 4 in. long, from Sierra Leone (1902), and one 

 with length of staple 3 ft. 3 in.-4 ft. 6 in. from the same Colony 

 (1905) — both so caUed ^S'. guineensis — vindicated that they were 

 all very similar in chemical composition and behaviour, valuation 

 (1906), of fair colour and of good length and strength, and if 

 exported in fair quantity w^ould sell freely at £33 per ton and 

 upwards (1 c, p. 87). The following may, perhaps, be correctly 

 included here — '' Ojakoko " fibre sent to the Imperial Institute 

 by the Colonial Secretary of Lagos in 1906 — " badly prepared 

 fibre of very uneven length " (I.e. p. 89 — S. guineensis) ; fibre 

 from Southern Nigeria valued (1908) at £28~£30 per ton (CoL 

 Rep. Ann. No. 601, 1909, p. 30) and a sample of " Aetiseni '' 

 fibre from Northern Nigeria — average length 3 ft. 3 in., *' fine 

 and, weak,** received in a twisted and plaited condition, worth 

 (1911), if not tmsted, £17-£18 per ton, with best Mexican Sisal 

 at £25 per ton. Another — sample — <)nly 18 in. long, also twisted, 

 was considered to be too short to be of much commercial value 

 (CoL Rep, Ann. No, 737, 1912, p. 27 — Sansevieria sp.). 



Sansevieria sp. 



A plant about 3 ft. high. Rhizome, If in. thick. Leaves 

 like those of S. metallica, but apparently thinner and more 

 flaccid (specimens in Herb. Kew, No. 30470, 1909-10, Imperial 

 Inst.). 



ft 



Vernac. names, — Abala (Yoruba, specimen, I.e.), Modah? 

 (Hausa, Dalziel, No. 231, 1909, Herb. Kew) ; Bessekoje ? (Fufulde, 



N. Nigeria, Dalziel). 



The specimens in the Kew Herbarium are from Northern 



Nigeria ; but they are incomplete and do not admit of a proper 



determination of the species. Further specimens have been 



asked for by the Director, and it is hoped in due course to identify 



he plant. In the meantime, it is suggested that in all probability 



