COCOA-NUT FIBEE. 161 



usneoides, a curious article called Spanish Moss, and Barba 

 Eispanica,is occasionally imported and used for the purpose of 

 mixing with horsehair in stuffing cushions and other articles 

 of furniture, and also for stuffing birds and other animals. 

 This fibre is not however procured by the separation of the 

 cellular matter of the leaves, in the manner described under 

 Flax, but the plant produces these fibres in great abundance 

 instead of leaves and roots. It is strictly an epiphyte ; that 

 is, it grows on the stems or branches of trees, and derives its 

 nourishment by absorbing moisture from the atmosphere; 

 for this purpose nature has furnished it with ample means, 

 for instead of a number of leaves, the absorbent power of 

 which would be limited, the fibres are produced in large 

 tufts, and when growing are coated with a spongy absorbent 

 surface, the peculiar black horsehair-like fibre constituting 

 merely the central part for the purpose of strengthening 

 these spongy strings, which resemble in their appearance 

 the aerial roots of many of the epiphytal Orchidacece, and, 

 like them, perform the functions of both leaves and roots. 



Coir, Kyar, or Cocoa-nut Fibre.— From the husk of 

 the common Cocoa-nut, Cocos nucifera. (Nat. Ord. Pal- 

 macece.) (Plate IX. fig. 44.) 



This fibre, which is nearly as strong as hemp, and if pos- 



M 



