162 



USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



Eriophorum latifolium. Cotton Grass. 



Another species of Cyperacew. Common in Europe. "The British species all 

 grow on wet hogs or turfy moors, where they frequently form very conspicuous 

 masses of vegetation, in consequence of the long showy silky "bristles of the flowers. 

 The English name cotton grass is very expressive, the flowers of some of the species 

 appearing like tufts of cotton." (Dr. Moore). The plant is known in Italy as swamp 

 flax, Lino della paludi. The fibrous substance mentioned as cotton has no value. 

 (See fig. 54.) The leaves of E. cannabinum have been plaited. 



E. polystachion, a British species found in wet hogs and turfy moors, is mentioned 

 in the Official Guide Kew Mus., paper and cloth having been made from it. 



Erizo (see Apeiba tibourbou). 



Erolin (see Uses of Flax, under Linum usitatisshnum). 



Erythrina indica. Indian Coral Tree. 



Exogen. Leguminoso?. Medium-sized tree. 

 India. Foothills of the Himalayas ; Burma. While the plant is valued in India 

 as yielding dye, gum, medicine, timber, and food, its hark is also said to yield a pale- 

 yellow fiber that is excellent for cordage. There are several American represent- 

 atives of the genus, hut they have not heen noted as producing fiber. E. suberosa 

 is mentioned hy Savorgnan as yielding a fiber used for cordage and ship cables. 



Escoba (Tenez.) See Sida rhombifolia. 



Escobadura (Arg.). See Pavonia. 



Escobilla (Cost. Ri.). See Sida. 



Esparto, and Esparto grass. 



The > — of commerce, from Spain and Algeria, Stipa lenacissima. 



sometimes given, also, to Lygeum spartnm ; chino, and 



Fimbristylis spadicea . 



The name is 

 mulaio, Mex., 



Espeletia sp. Frailejon. 



An interesting genus of Composite? inhabiting high elevations in Colombia, Ecuador, 

 and Venezuela, often 13,000 to 14,000 feet above sea level. Some of them are only a 

 foot high, though the larger number are taller. 



Surface Fiber. — The plants are furnished with long, strap-shaped root leaves 

 which are densely clothed with a white or rust-colored wool. Specimens of this 

 wool were exhibited in tbe Venezuelan court, W. C. E.. 1893, under the common 

 name Frailejon. They were collected from the highest parts of the Cordilleras of 

 Merida. Refer to Culcitium. 



Esponja. 

 Estrapaja. 



Sponge Cucumber. See Luffa, 



Estopa (Braz.)=tow. 



Eta, or Ita palm (see Mauritia flexuosa). 



Eucalyptus obliqua. The Stringy Bark. Gigantic Gum Tree. 



Exogen. ALyrtacecv. 

 The trees of this large genus abound in Australia and Tasmania, tbough some of 

 the species have been distributed to other countries. Over 100 species are recognized, 

 and many of the trees are gigantic in size, and are exceedingly valuable for their 



