272 
SAPOTACEA. 
Mimusops? costata, Hartog. A small tree with edible fruit. It 
also yields a fibre. (River sides near E. Coast.) Todinga or Voajaba 
(Betsim 
ASCLEPIADEZ. 
Sar madagascari iensis, Bojer. A shrub, the bark of which 
is used by t akalava in the manufacture of rum, and its fibre for 
fishing Kow (W. Reg.) Laakiro (Sak.) 
THYMEL MACE, 
Dais glaucescens, Dene. The fibre of this shrub is used as string. 
(Cent. Reg.) Avoha or Havoha 
PALM. 
Raphia Ruffia, Mart. The midrib of the leaf of this palm, 
which sometimes reaches 35 to 40 feet in length, is used chiefly for 
poles for ladies palanquins, ladders, &c. The fibre from the young ~ 
opened ya is employed as prp and is dep ly apon ted to Eur 
“eae go na of “ Raphia Gra Vario s kinds cloth, which p> 
know « Fabo,” e Jiafdtsy,” "= « Sandiadiaka,” ea - Sikinivola ” are 
made o the fibre. From the stem the natives obtain a sweet liquid 
“ats < Harafa,” gant the shells of the fruits are employed as receptacles 
r various small articles and as snuff boxes. (Widely spread in the 
island, but always in a valles) Rofià or Fòmby, 
PANDANEÆ. 
andanus, spp. Hats are made from the leaf fibres of some of 
the species ; the leaves of one of them found on the east coast are used, 
when dried, as covers for packages, and effectually secures them from 
rain, Vakòana, Hofa, &e. 
CYPERACE. 
Cyperus ik oe Poir. Commonly eco in the thatching of 
houses. (Widely spread in marshes.) Hérana. 
C. imerinensis, Boeckl. A sedge nearly allied to the Egyptian 
papyrus. The flowering stems when strung together are largely u 
for native doors, &c. Mats are made from AAs of the same. (Widely 
spread in anky places.) Zozòro, r and Bilo. 
Eleocharis plantaginea, R. Br., E. Baroni, Baker. Used 
in making mats, baskets, and hats. Mec in Cent. Reg.) Har?fo. 
eo ‘pus paludicola, Kunth., var. decipiens, Nees. Employed in 
ing mats, baskets, &c. (Cent. Reg. chiefly.) Hazondrdno. 
Lepironia mucronata, TIE Hei in the manufacture of hats, 
also employed by the Betsimisaraka women in making sugar bags, 
which are exported to Meroe Œ. Coast.) Pènja (Betsim). This 
species is found also in China, where it is largely used for making 
mats, 
