432 FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



period the mass has become fully softened, and is 

 removed and subjected to another pounding in order 

 to dissever the fibres from the pulpy portions of the 

 leaves, and is then thoroughly cleansed in fresh water 

 and dried in the sun ; it is subsequently made up for 

 sale in small bundles containing each about a dozen 

 lesser portions twisted at one end, and seldom ex- 

 ceeding a foot in length, and of a light brown hue. 

 The natives use this fibre in the manufacture of 

 fishing-lines, nets, thread, and other kinds of cordage, 

 and consider them to be better capable of resisting 

 the destructive action of continual immersions in 

 sea-water than other vegetable substances similarly 

 prepared. — 'Pharmaceutical Journal,' vol. xii., 1852, 

 p. 130, &c. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea. 



Iride^e. 



Barci {Irided). — The corms of a species of Iridea, 

 together with bitter cola, onions, &c., are, according 

 to Mr. Venn, reduced to a powder by beating or 

 grinding, and then drunk with lime juice or warm 

 water as a vermifuge in Sierra Leone. Mr. Barter 

 also mentions a species of Iridea as being used 

 medicinally in Sierra Leone. — Kew Museum. 



Taccace^. 

 Tacca involucrata, S. and T. — Perennial herb. The 



