248 
Brisbane Garden, 1874, is said to have stems 40—50 feet high, leaves 
5-6 feet long, and fruit 3—4 inches long. 
8. M.textilis, Vée ; (M. mindanensis, Rumph); M. sylvestris, end 
M. renes textoria, Blanco. Stem cylindrical, green, 2 
or more high, stoloniferous from the base. Leaves oblong, deltoid s 
the base, bright green above, rather glaucous beneath, smaller and 
firmer in texture than those of M. eei entum ; petiole a foot long. 
Spike drooping, shorter than the leav male flowers deciduous ; 
bracts firmer in texture than those of M. jopiskien, t medie and | polished 
outside, not at all pruinose, brown. Female flowers in several laxly- 
disposed clusters. Fruit green, oblong trigonous, curved, 2-5 inches 
ong, l inch diameter, not narrowed to the apex, but narrowed to the 
short stout stipe, not edible, b filled icai e Seeds black, 
turbinate, 1 inch dia — angled by pre Distribution :— 
Widely distributed and cultivat ted in the Philippine Isiands under 
the name of Abaca. It ascends the mountains in the wild state 
to the lower limit of Pinus insularis. It is cultivated (at elevations 
of 200 feet to 500 feet) for the sake of its cordage fibre, one 
i The 
plant has been introduced to other tropical countries, but, so far, it has 
not T dosis so well as in the Philippines. (Kew Bull., 1887, 
April, pp. 1-3.) 
Var. M. e Rumph. Stem not so tall. Spike — so 
ooping. Fruit as long as a man’s finger, black at maturity. Nat 
mboyna 
A very complete set of specimens of fruit (Ceylon), a (Manila), 
of prepared hemp, cords, ropes, mats , plaited work, hats, lace handker- 
chiefs from M. textilis are shown in the Kew Museum. ied 
specimens of the inflorescence of this species are desired ve the Kew 
ierbarium ; while a portion of the spike preserved in spirit would be a 
valuable addition to the Museum. 
*19. M. discolor, /7ora». Stoloniferous. Stem slender, cylindrical, 
6-10 feet high. Leaves narrow-oblong, smaller and firmer in texture 
than in M. sapientum, rounded at the base, glaucous, tinged with violet or 
red beneath when young ; petiole a foot or more long. Spike drooping, 
Ber as long as the leaves ; bracts reddish, the upper only persisting ; 
ma ers deciduous. Fruit cylindrical, angled, rather curved, 
herir at the apex, rather dry, reddish-violet, very palaiable with a 
violet pulp, and a rather musky scent. Distribution : —This species is 
cultivated in Polynesia and especially in New Caledonia, where it bears 
the name of Colaboute, and is said by Vieillard to be wild there. It 
produces no fertile seeds, Ít is in cultivation in this country and there 
is a drawing at Kew by Fitch of a plant that flowered iu the Gardens 
many years ago. 'The stem yields a textile fibre which is used for fish- 
baskets, &c. 
*20. M. Basjoo, Sieb. et Zucc.; Bot. Mag. t. 7182; M. japonica 
Hort. Stoloniferous. Stem cylindrica al, 6-9 feet hi igh, 6-8 inches 
diameter. Leaves oblong, thin, keie green, 6-9 feet long, 14-24 ves 
deltoid at the base; petiole stout, about a foot lon 
stout, arcuate, a foot long. Spike dense, 1-13 feet long; female 
