FIBROUS SPECIES OF SIDA, ETC 263 
yields abundance of very delicate flaxy fibres, which he 
thought might be advantageously employed for many purposes. 
When the seed is sown thick on a good soil, the plants grow 
tall and slender, without branches, and are every way fit for such 
purposes. 
Major Hannay sent from Assam to the Agri-Hortic. Soc., 
in Dec., 1851, some of the fibre of Side rhomboidea, which grows 
luxuriantly in that valley. Capt. Thompson thought from 
its length, its similarity to silk, and its great strength, that it 
would fetch a high price in England. The line (only half an 
inch in circumference) sustained, after exposure to wet and sun 
for ten days, 400 Ib. 
S. periplocifolia, a native of the Malay Islands, was also 
one of those subjected to experiment by Dr. Roxburgh, and 
who describes the plant as flowering and ripening its seed in 
the Botanic Garden at Calcutta, a great part of the year. 
“Tts bark abounds in serviceable flaxen fibres, and as it shoots 
quickly into long, simple twigs, particularly if cut near the 
earth, it answers well for procuring the fibre of good length 
for most purposes.” 
Some of Dr. Roxburgh’s original specimens, marked July, 
1804, are still in the India House; the fibres are from four to 
five feet in length, and display a fine soft and silky fibre, as well 
adapted for spinning as the Jute, but are apparently superior. 
Various species of Sida, as S. asiatica, indica, graveolens, 
and others, are extremely common in every part of India in 
the rainy season. Many of them, no doubt, contain fibre 
which might be turned to useful account. 
Urena lobata and U. sinuata, two weeds also belonging to 
this family, the one called dun-ochra and the other kungia, 
and common in most parts of India, also abound in strong 
and a tolerably fine substitute for Flax. 
If the common Mallow (Malwa sylvestris, &c.) of Europe, 
or the Marsh-mallow (Althea officinalis), are examined, it 
will be found that they abound in fibre ; others of these 
genera are valued for their fibres in different countries, as 
Malwa crispa is said by Cavanilles to have its fibre separated 
in Syria, and Althea cannabina, is sometimes so employed in 
the South of Europe; so Lavatera arborea, or Tree Mallow, 
will be found to abound in fibre. 
