DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 61 



India. Also found in the West Indies and Brazil, growing on river banks and in the 

 marshes. It was introduced into Louisiana many years ago, and is now spontaneous 

 in some of the lower parts of that State. Cultivated successfully at Knoxyille, Tenn., 

 where the fragrance of the rhizomes and roots was developed to a marked degree, 

 but the plants did not bloom. 



Structural Fiber. — This species is interesting as supplying the material for the 

 sweet-scented, fibrous fans from India, which proved one of the novelties of the Chi- 

 cago Exposition of 1893. These fans are made from the roots, which are also employed 

 for making the fragrant screens known as tatties, which when wet are hung before 

 the open windows and doors of houses to cool the atmosphere. The Kew Mus. col- 

 lection contains a series of specimens of fans, baskets, and hand screens made from 

 these roots. "Also used for awnings and as covers for palanquins and fans, and 

 brushes used by weavers in arranging the thread of the web are made from either the 

 roots or the whole plant. The roots laid among clothing impart a pleasing fra- 

 grance to the garments and are said to keep them free from insects. The roots are 

 an article of commerce sold by druggists. In European drug stores the roots are 

 known as Radix anatheri or Radix vetirerice, a stimulant or antiseptic. They yield a 

 perfume known as vetivert, or, in India, itar." (F. Lamson-Scribner.) This grass is 

 used as thatching material in India. 



A. involutus, another Indian species, was formerly supposed to produce the " Bha- 

 bar" grass, which, however, is the product of an Ischcemum. A. nardus is the Citro- 

 nella of India, the stems of which have been proposed as a useful 'paper product. 

 Die. Ec. Prod. Ind. A. condensatus is an Argentine species, noted as useful for its fiber. 

 Other fiber species are A. tenuis and A. sericeus, in South Australia. The natives of 

 Kaviroudo, British Central Africa, make use of the material of a species of Andro- 

 pogon for grass ropes with which their cattle are tethered. There are a number of 

 species of the genus in the United States, but none has been reported as a fiber mate- 

 rial other than cultivated broom corn. 



* Specimens of fans, W. C. E., 1893, Indian section; grass and fiber, U. S. Nat. Herb, 

 and Mus. U. S. Dept. Ag. 



Anjan (Hind.). See HardwicMa. 



Anoda-gaha (OeyL). Abutilon indicum. 



Anodendron paniculatum. 



Exogen. Apocynacew. A giant climber. 

 An Indian species of plant also found in Ceylon. The stems are said to yield a 

 very strong, fine fiber much esteemed in Ceylon for native uses, known as dul. 



Anoer (Malay). Cocos nucifera. 

 Anona squamosa. Sour-sop. 



Exogen. Anonacew. Small trees or shrubs. 



There are several species of the genus, found in America,.Africa, and Asia. They 

 are chiefly prized for their fruit, though a fibrous substance is yielded by the bark, 

 which has been utilized in some countries. Savorgnan states that in Guadaloupe 

 the fiber has been employed for cordage. A. reticulata, the true custard apple of the 

 West Indies, a fiber said to have been extracted from the young twigs which is better 

 than that from the above species. A. palustris, Brazil, which is known as araticu- 

 cortica, supplies the natives of Para with a useful fiber. Species of Anona of Vene- 

 zuela, known locally as anoncillo and manirito, find a place in the list of useful fibers 

 of that country. Several of the species named above are found in India, A. reticulata 

 being prized as yielding dye and tanning material, fiber, food, medicine, and timber. 

 See Diet. Ec. Prod. Ind., Vol. I, p. 258, and Cat. Venez. Expos., 1883, by Dr. Ernst, 

 The State of Para, Braz. Com. W. C. E., 1893. 



* Specimens of A. muricata. — Herb. Col. Univ., N. Y. 



