166 USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



consequence of the compression suffered, they heconie very thin, yet preserving a 

 remarkable width and length. In this condition, to say nothing of their being objects 

 of curiosity, it is possible to transform them into thick garments lor country labor- 

 ers or other workmen. Without further preparation, letters and official 

 documents are written on the precious bark of the rich tree of the Doce River. M, 

 Leverino Costa Leitc has taken from one tree 275 cavados (206 yards) of bark sheets 

 three-fourths of a yard wide. 



Ficus benghalensis. The B any ax Tree. 



Endogen. UrticacecB. Large spreading tree, 70 to 100 feet. 



India and tropical Africa. 



Many of the species of this genus send out aerial roots from the branches, and these, 

 descending to the soil, form lesser trunks, so that the tree covers a large area. 



Fiber. — A coarse rope is prepared from the bark and from the aerial roots. Paper 

 is also reported to have been formerly largely prepared in Assam from the bark, and 

 to a small extent it is still so prepared at Pakhimpore and in Bellary in Madras. 

 This fiber was used by the Sikhs as a slow match. The length of the ultimate fibers 

 has, by Cross, Bevan, and King, been ascertained to be 1 to 3 millimeters. The fibers 

 obtained from the genus Ficus contain from 40 to 60 per cent of cellulose, and under 

 hydrolysis lose from 20 to 40 jier cent of their weight. Chemically they are there- 

 fore worthless fibers. ( Watt.) 



Fimbristylis complanata. 



This species belongs to a genus of cyperaceous plants which embraces upward of 

 200 species, chiefly natives of warm countries. 



The culms of F. complanata have been used in Ceylon for making mats; the Kew 

 Mus. collection contains a mat and rice plate from this species, and samples of Game- 

 lotte fiber, and paper pulp and paper from the stems of F. spadicea sent from Vera 

 Cruz. Mexican name, Esparto chino and Esparto mulato. 



Fique. 



In the collection of the United States Department of Agriculture there is a beau- 

 tiful series of ropes, sandals, etc., collected in Ecuador, labeled with this name. 

 Dr. Ernst states that Fique is the same as Cocuiza (Venezuela), Furcraa gigantea, 

 which see. 



Fireweed (U. S.). See Epilobium angustifolium. 



Fitzroya patagonica. 



Exogen. Conifercc. Cone-bearing tree, 100 feet. 

 This is an evergreen tree, found in South America from Chile to Patagonia. Accord- 

 ing to Spon, its outer bark yields a fibrous substance used for calking ships. "The 

 tree, which is found in the mountains of Patagonia, bears the ordinary winters of 

 Britain" {Prof. J. B. Balfour). 



Flachs (Ger.) = Flax. 



Flax. 



Ancient (see IAnum angustifolium) ; for linen. Linum untatissimum; 



False , Canielina sativa; Lily. Dianella tasmanica : New Zealand . 



Phormium tenax; Mountain (see Cordyline)-, Rocky Mountain , Linum 



lewisii : Travancore (see Crotalaria) ; Swamp , Eriophorum latifolium. 



For references to "llax cotton" and "flax wool," see Uses of Flax, under Linum 

 U8itati88imum. 



Foetid aloe (Maurit.). Furcrcea gigantea. 



