DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



77 



leaves are very large, terminal, and regularly pinnate. The leaflets are elongate, 

 rigid, closely set together, and spreading out flat on each side of the midrib. The 

 sheathing "bases of the petioles are persistent for a greater or less distance down 

 the stem, and in young trees down to the ground, as in the (Enoearpus bataua. The 

 spadices grow from among the leaves and are large and simply hranched. The 

 fruit is of large size compared with most American palms, being about 3 inches long, 

 and from this circumstance it derives its native name u Vauassti," signifying " large 

 fruit." 



On the lower Amazon and in the neighborhood of Para A. excelsa is not uncommon. 

 It is a handsome, lofty species which grows on lands flooded at high tides, and is 

 called by the natives Urucuri. The fruit of this tree is burnt, and the smoke is 

 used to black the newly made 

 india rubber. Martins says that 

 the fruit of the A. speciosa is used 

 for this purpose, but that species 

 is not found in the principal rub- 

 ber districts, while A. excelsa is 

 abundant there. ( Wallace, Palms 

 of the Amazon). 



Structural Fiber. — The foliage 

 of this tree is very extensively 

 used for thatching. The young 

 plants produce very large leaves 

 before the stem is formed, and it is 

 in this state that they are gener- 

 ally used. The unopened leaves 

 from the center are preferred, as, 

 though they require some prepara- 

 tion, they produce a more uniform 

 thatch. The leaf is shaken till 

 it falls partially open, and then 

 each leaflet is torn at the base so 

 as to remain hanging by its mid- 

 rib only, which is, however, quite 

 sufficient to secure it firmly. They 

 thus hang all at right angles to 

 the midrib of the leaf, which ad- 

 mits of their being laid in a very 

 regular manner on the rafters. 

 They are generally known as 

 "pallia branca"or "white thatch/' 

 from the pale yellow color of the 

 unopened leaves, and are consid- 

 ered the best covering for houses 

 in places where Bussu can not be obtained. ( Wallace, Palms of the Amazon.) 



Fig. 29.— The Baliia Piassaha palm, Attalea funijera. 



Athryxia phylicoides. 



This species, known in Natal as i-Tshanyela, is said by J. Medley Wood, in the Report 

 of the Colonial Herbarium (Durban, 1894), to be employed as a material for brooms. 



Australian mallow. See Lavatera plebeia. 

 Aya-mushiro matting (Jap.). See Cyperwt unitans. 

 Baboi and Babui (Beng.). See Ischwmum. 



