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beautiful satiny appearance, but little strength or durability. They are 
also used for stuffing pillows and for similar purposes. 
PLANT FIBERS 
Plant fibers occur in the wood and bark of roots and 
stems, and in the stems and framework of leaves and fruits, 
to which structures they impart strength, toughness, and 
elasticity. Those occurring in the wood are called wood- 
fibers; those in the bark, bast-fibers. ‘They are composed of 
elongated and thick-walled cells arranged in strands. 
They are among the most important of useful vegetable 
products, being the principal element of value in timber. 
Of them are constructed ropes, cordage, thread, bagging, 
matting, linen fabrics and many other articles. ‘They enter 
largely into the making of paper. In the making of 
brooms, brushes and some other articles, the entire stems 
containing the fibers are employed. In making hats, 
baskets, and many forms of mats, the stems are split into 
narrow bands, which are woven or plaited together. Chair 
seats are often made by twisting together the entire leaves 
of grasses, sedges, and rushes containing tough fibers. For 
use in ropes, cordage and most woven fabrics, the fibers are 
removed and freed from adhering tissue and separated into 
more or less narrow strands. 
In some cases, small plants of a very fibrous nature are 
used in their entirety, to impart elasticity and for other 
purposes, as in the two following. 
145. Lichens.—Ramalina complanata (Sw.) Ach. (Usneaceae—Beard-moss Family): 
Dendrographa leucophaea (Tuck.) Darbish and D. minor (Tuck.) Darbish 
(Roccellaceae—Roccella Family). 
146. Oak-moss.—Species of lichens in the genus Ramalina (Usneaceae). Col- 
lected from oaks. Used for stuffing pillows and mattresses. From the New 
York market. 
147. :\madou or German tinder. Surgeon’s agaric.—The interior of the fruit-body 
of Elfvingiella fomentaria (L.) Murrill (Polyporaceae—Polypore Family) 
freed from soft, cellular matter and softened, then blocked and pressed to 
form a peasant’s hat. Acquired in Germany and presented by Charles F. 
Chandler. This product receives the above names because of its native use 
as tinder and its surgical use for making absorbent compresses. 
148. Resam.—The stems of Dicranopteris linearis (Burm.) Underw. (Gleicheniaceae 
