62 USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



Anoncillo (Venez.). Anona spp. 



Anthistiria arundinacea. 



Endogen. Gramineos. A grass. 



This species is found in northern India, where, according to Watt, the culms yield a 



fiher used for cordage and for the sacrificial striugs used by the Hindoos. The 



leaves are also employed as a thatching material. Another species, the kangaroo 



grass of Australia (A. australis), is given in Bernardin's list of fiber-producing plants. 



Anthurium acaule. 



Belongs to the Arum family. Native of tropical America. " The small, broad leaves 

 are used as a thatch material by the Indians of British Guiana, strung together many 

 on a stick" (E. F. im Thvrn). 



Antiaris toxicaria. The Upas Tree. 



Exogen. Moracece. Large evergreen tree. 



By some authors A. toxicaria and A. innoxia (syn. A. saccidora), the Travaiicore 

 sacking trees, are regarded as one species. Both abound in portions of India, the 

 former on the Western Ghats and in Ceylon, the latter in Burma. The stripped bark 

 is soaked in water and beaten, producing a white fibrous cloth, employed by the 

 natives. The fiber is also used for native cordage, matting, and sacking. Both 

 clothing and natural sacks are formed from the bark. An account of this rude 

 manufacture is given in Die. Ec. Prod. Ind., Vol. I, p. 268, as follows: " Small 

 branches are made into legs of trousers and arms of coats, the larger ones forming 

 the bodies of the garments. * * * In making sacks, sometimes a disk of the wood 

 is left attached to the fiber to form the bottom of the sack. At other times the bark 

 is peeled off, and after being beaten in water and dried the top and bottom are sewed 

 up, forming the sack." 



* Specimens. — Bot. Mus. Harv. Univ. 



Antidesma alexiteria. 



A species of Euphoroiacece, found in India, the leaves of which are an antidote for 

 snake bites. Its fruits are edible, and cords are made from the fiber of the bark. 



Antirrhinum majus. Common Snapdragon. 



The species of this genus of Scropliulariacem are found in southern Europe and in 

 California. A. majus is common in Italy, where it is known as Lino dei Muri, Bocca 

 de leone, etc. It grows in walls and is cultivated in gardens. "The fiber of the stem 

 is tenacious and can be used as a textile 1 ' (Manual Hoepli). 



Apeiba tibourbou. 



Exogen. Tiliacece. A tree. 

 This species abounds in many South American countries, the fiber being in the 

 form of a thin ribbon of coarse bast, similar to that produced from the Tilias, and 

 capable of rude weaving into mats and similar manufactures. Not an important 

 fiber, though given by Dr. Ernst in the list of Venezuelan fibers. Known in Vene- 

 zuela as Erizo. Bernardin mentions A. nhnifolia as one of the fiber trees of Trinidad. 

 A. petoumo, known as Cortega in Panama, is used for cordage, its fiber being white. 

 tough, and strong. Savorgnan mentions A. glabra as a fiber species found in Guiana. 

 Bernardin catalogues two other species as fiber producing, A. aspera and J. ulmifolia. 



Apocynum cannabinum. Indian Hemp. 



Exogen. Apocynacece. A perennial herb. 



Abounds throughout the western portion of the United States. Specimens of 

 fiber have been received from Minnesota. Nebraska, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. 



Bast Fiber.— Easily separated from the stalk, and when cleaned is quite fine, 

 long, and tenacious. In color it is light cinnamon as usually seen, though finely 



