56 



USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



Australia. A. arenaria is native along the Atlantic coast of the United states and 

 also on the coasts of -western Europe. It was introduced into Australia from Hol- 

 land, and its Dutch name " Marram grass'" was taken with it. It is known in this 

 country and in most places in England as "beach grass" and sea-sand grass. It 

 is one of the most valuable of the grasses adapted to binding the drifting sands 

 of our coasts, and has been cultivated for this purpose in this as well as in other 

 countries. The action of this grass in holding the drifting sands is like that of 

 brush or hushes cut and laid upon the ground in accummulating snow when drifted 

 by the wind. The sand collects around the clumps of grass, and as it accumulates 

 the grass grows up and overtops it, and will so continue to grow, no matter how 

 high the sand hill may rise. A plant will, by gradual up-growth, finally form stems 

 and root- sanded in to the depth of fully 10 feet. Many years ago it was as cus- 

 tomary to warn the inhabitants of Truro and some other towns 

 on Cape Cod to turn out to plant marram grass as it was in the 

 inland towns to turn out and mend the roads. This was re- 

 quired by law, with suitable penalties for its neglect, and took 

 place in April. Marram grass is best propagated by trans- 

 planting, the grass being pulled by hand and set in a hole 

 about a foot deep and the sand pressed about it. (Scribner.) 

 It is also used in Eastern countries and in Holland for binding 

 the sands upon the coast and preserving them from the inroads 

 of the sea. (See fig. 19). 



Structural Fiber. — In the north of England the grass is 

 said to be used for table mats and basket work. Spon says 

 that its fiber is used for paper making, matting, and agricul- 

 tural tie bands; also employed as thatch material. Its fiber 

 is not used in the United States. 

 Specimens. — U. S. Xat. Herb. 



Amomum magnificum. 



Endogen. Zingiber acew. Herb. 

 A genus of aromatic herbs. The species is found in Mauritius 

 "From the very fine fiber of the leaves textures de luxe are 

 made*' (Manual Hoepli). 



Ampelodesma tenax. Diss. 



Endogen. Graminea . 

 The plant grows wild on the Algerian coast, and is said to 



produce 84 per cent of fiber, with an average length of 5 feet. 



One of the plants often confounded with Stipa tenacissima, as 



it grows wild in the regions where the true esparto abounds. 



In the Kew Mus. are shown examples of rope from the diss 

 made in Genoa, lias been imported into Sicily for paper making. Nets from Am- 

 pelodesma tenax have been used on the Tuscan coast in the tunney fishery. The nets 

 are very durable if kept in water and protected from the action <>f the sun." I u't'. 

 Guide Kew Mus. 



Fig. 19.— Marram gras.- 

 Ammophila ar> nana. 



Amsonia tabernaemontana. 



Exogen. Apocynacece. Herb. 

 A genus of Apocynacea? with five species, natives of North America. 

 named has been received from Mr. S. S. Boyce, of Boiling Fork, Misa. 

 it as a promising fiber plant. 



The species 

 who regards 



