258 
bleaching process, which gives them a bright appearance and a pale 
sare colour 
Am g the specimens sent by Mr. Baker to Kew there were two 
Sade "ae grasses, both of which evidently belonged to the genus 
Epicampes. One was Epicampes macroura, Benth., [Cinna macroura, 
Kunth.|, and the other a closely allied species which could not be 
determined without flowers. There can be little doubt, therefore, that 
the broom root is derived from one or more species of grasses belonging 
to the genus Hpicampes. 
Sereno Watson, Botany of California, Vol. II., p. 277, mentions the 
distribution of one sporio of this genus, viz., Epicampes rigens, Benth. 
(Cin na macroura, Thurb.), as San rogo. County, age and also 
in Mexico and “eastward in New Mexico and Western Texas. It is 
as “ eed-grass.” It is paana as a yin -growing, very 
rigid, wiry aan of a pale yellowish green colour, growing in sub- 
alkaline localities, and apparently i in tufts. The rigid stems are used 
by the Indians for making baskets 
LXXX.—BROOM ROOT OR MEXICAN WHISK— 
(continued). 
(Epicampes macroura, Benth.) 
[K. B. 1897, p. 172.] 
An account of Broom root or Mexican whisk obtained from one or 
more species of grasses belonging to the genus Epicumpes was given 
the Kew Bulletin ag December 1887 (p. 9). The roots - the co 
most recent information respecting Broom root is contained in the 
following “Report for the year 1895 on the Trade of Mexico” (F.O. 
1896, Annual ey No. 1827 2 :— 
“ From the roots of a coarse tufty grass, known as ‘Zacaton, which 
is found growing wild all over the highlands of Mexico, a fibre is 
> called ‘Raiz de Zacaton,’ which has found a market abroad 
r the manufacture of certain kinds of brushes and whisks. It is 
ears by hand, and is subjected to very little treatment a being 
ed, beyond being soaked in water and bleached in the 
rincipal market for this fibre i s Hamburg, but the United States and 
e both take a certain amount. t has never obtained a foothold in 
the English market. The export in ah was valued at 67,5997. The 
price, according to the New York quotations, ranged in the year under 
question from 6c. to 14c. per Ib. noni to quali ty.” 
LXXXI—CHINESE FIBRES. 
[K. B., 1891, pp. 247-259.] 
Under the name of jute or hemp there are included a nunhere of 
commercial fibres in Cuina yielded by very different plants, There 
