234 



INDUSTRIAL PLANTS 



this is made the celeliratcd piha or pineapple-cloth of the 

 Philippines — said to be the most delicate and perhaps the 

 most costly of vegetable textiles. 



Fig. 220. — Southern Moss {Tillnndsia iisnruidis. Pineapple Faniilj-, Bro- 

 vwliacccc). A, plant in flower, growing attached to bark. B, flower, 

 enlarged. G, flower, cut vertically. (Wittmack.) — Perennial herba- 

 ceous air-plant hanging from trees to a length of 1-2 ni., wifhoiit 

 roots, covered with grayish scales through which water is absorbed; 

 flowers yellow^; fruit dry; seeds hair>'. Native home. Southern United 

 States to Brazil. 



FlQ. 221. — Rush (Juncus rffusus, Rush Pamih-, Junrarra). Plant in 

 flower, i. Calyx, corolla, and stamens. Fruit. Seed, edge and side 

 views. (Britton and Brow'n.) — Perennial herb 3-12 dm. tali, smooth 

 throughout; flowers greenish; fruit dry. Native home. North America 

 and Eurasia. 



Tlu" fiber extracted from the stem of the so-called southern 

 ■)iii>ss (Fi^. 220) by rettiiis is strildngly lil-;(> horsehair in ap- 

 pearance and stiffness, and is larg(>ly substitutetl for it as 



