DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 55 



Aloe vera. Barbados Aloes. Indian Aloes. 



Endogen. Liliacew. Rosette of thick leaves with central flower stalk. 

 Native Indian names. — Ghi-kavar, Ghirta-Jcumari, and many others. 



The plant is said to be a native of northern Africa. Canary Isles, and southern 

 Spain, and its many varieties have been introduced into all tropical countries. 

 Cultivated in the West Indies, Barbados, and Antigua. Grows generally in India, 

 and in south India has escaped from cultivation. 



Structural Fiber. — While the plant is grown for its medicinal qualities, the leaves 

 contain a good fiber which could be utilized, as the leaves are of no further use after 

 the juice has been extracted. This fiber should not be confounded with the Aloe 

 fiber of commerce derived from Agave americana. 



* Specimens of fiber from A. indicd were exhibited in the Indian department at the 

 W. C. E., 1893, Chicago. 



Alsi (Hind.). Linum usitatissimum. 



Althaea cannabina. 



Exogen. Malvacece A shrub. 



This species is found in southern Europe — Spain and Italy — and is also indigenous 

 to southern Russia, Hungary, and the Caucasus. In Italy it is known as Canapa 

 salvatica, or wild hemp. 



Fiber. — The bast is said by Savorgnan to yield a fiber in Spain that is employed 

 "for very fine cloth." Enumerated in Bernardin's catalogue as a fiber plant. 



Althaea rosea. The Hollyhock. 



This species of Malvaceae, which is the origin of the common hollyhock, grows 

 wild in China and also southern Europe. It is similar to the common marsh mallow, 

 A. officinalis. 



Bast Fiber. — A sample of its fiber of good length, experimentally prepared by 

 Henry Koenig, a Missouri correspoudeut, was recently sent to the Department. The 

 fiber is bright in color, a light straw, but exhibits only medium strength; would be a 

 poor jute substitute. 



* Specimen. — Mus. U. S. Dept. Ag. 



Alva marina. See Zostera. 



Ambada (Ind.). See Hibiscus cannabinus. 



American Aloe. Agave americana. 



Amole (II. S.). Ghlorogalum pomeridianum and other plants used for 

 soap. 



Ambari hemp (Ind.). See Hibiscus cannabinus. 



Ambrosia trifida. Tall Bag-weed. 



Exogen. ComposiUe. A coarse annual weed. 



The species of this genus are found in North and South America, tropical India, 

 and Africa, growing in waste places. 



Bast Fiber. — Dr. Havard states that the fiber of the tall, stout stems of the rag- 

 weed were formerly utilized by Indians to make strings and ropes. 



Ammophila arenaria. Beach Grass. 



Syn. Psamma arenaria, Ammophila arundinacea. 

 Endogen. Graminece. A sea reed or grass. 



Common names. — Marram, marum, sea reed, sea matweed, beach grass, bent 

 grass, etc. 

 Habitat : Temperate North America, Europe, northern Africa, and introduced into 



