15 G USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



Eleocharis acuta. Slender Spike Rush. 



A genus of cyperaceons plants having a wide range from the torrid zone almost to 

 the arctic. This species is common in Australia in moist situations, and is allied to 

 the creeping spike rush of middle Europe. It is named by Dr. Ferd. von Mueller, of 

 Melbourne, as a good paper stock. '' The local experiments here show this and many 

 other cyperaeeous plants exquisitely adapted for good printing and tissue paper, 

 and a by no means very inferior writing paper. Better appliances will necessarily 

 improve the quality of the paper." (Dr. Ferd. ran Mueller.) 



The stout spike rush, E. spliacelata, a swamp land species of southeast Australia 

 and Tasmania, is said by the same authority to be applicable to similar uses. E. plan- 

 taginea and E. fistulosa are Ceylon species, from the culms of which sleeping mats 

 are made, and examples of these are preserved in the Kew Mus. 



Eleocharis palustris. 

 Syn. Scirpus palustris. 



A sedge common in America, Europe, northern Asia, and southern Africa. Used 

 in the same manner as the common bulrush. Scirpus lacustris, which see. Savorg- 

 nan states that E. palustris is especially valued in Holland for making beautiful 

 matting. 



Elephant Grass. Tyjpha latifolia. 



Eleusine coracana. Ragi Millet. 



Endogen. Graminece. An erect annual grass, 2 to 4 feet. 



COMMON names. — African Millet ; Ragi Millet. Indian names, Dagassa, Kora- 

 ]:«>i, and Mandua. 



il Cultivated in India, southern China, Japan, and in many parts of Africa for the 

 grain, which is used as food. It forms the principal food of many African tribes. 

 In spite of the bitter taste of the flour, a kind of bread or unleavened cake is made 

 of it. Beer is brewed from the grain in Abyssinia. Said to yield good crops even 

 on very poor soil, and may be cultivated in the same way and for the same purposes 

 as millet." {F. Lamson-Scribner.) 



Savorgnan states that fiber has been extracted from this species which is useful for 

 rough cordage. E. indica, which has been distributed throughout the warmer coun- 

 tries of the globe, is particularly abundant in the Southern States, growing in culti- 

 vated grounds about dwellings, etc. It has somewhat wiry, flattened stems, many 

 springing from a single root, and rather thick leaves. It might be useful as a paper 

 plant ; known as wire grass, crab grass, etc. 



Elionurus hirsutus. 



Endogen. Graminece. A perennial grass, 1 to 2 feet. 

 India. "Watt mentions that the roots are claimed to yield a til>er for use in weav- 

 er's brushes. 



Elm (see TJlmus). 



Elodea canadensis. Water Weed. 



Bernardin gives E. canadensis as a paper material. « >f doubtful utility. 



Elymus arenarius. Sea Lyme Grass. 



This species, allied to the common barley, is known as a common sand-binding grass 

 along the shores of Great Britain, but is found also in other parts of Europe and in 

 America, particularly on "our North Atlantic coast and on our western shores from 

 Santa Cruz, Cal., northward to within the arctic zone. The seeds are used for food 

 by the Digger Indians of the Northwest , and as the grass springs up around their 

 deserted lodges it is called by the settlers 'Rancheria" grass. This lyme grass is 

 usually regarded as possessing little or no forage value, but in very moist climates 



