DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



203 



to the Iridacece. This specjes is found iu 



Iris macrosiphon. 



A genus of perennial plants belong 

 California. 



Structural Fiber. — Dr. Havard states in Garden, and Forest, 1890, p. 631, that 

 the leaves of this species are much used in northern California ana in Oregon to 

 make ropes, fish lines, nets, and a cloth hardly distinguishable from coarse canvas. 

 The leaves are 1 to 2 feet long and 1 to 3 lines wide, each with two strong fibers, 

 forming the edges. These fibers are dexter- 

 ously separated by tbo squaws with a sharp 

 zinc thumb piece, then neatly and evenly 

 braided into cord of variable size, or otherwise 

 woven into nets, cloth, etc. 



Iris pseudacorus is the Yellow Water Iris, a 

 common weed of England and Ireland. The 

 leaves are said by Spon to yield 60 per cent of 

 available fiber for half stuff', which makes a 

 fairly good paper. 



Ischnosiphon spp. 



A genus of Marantacecv, and allied to plants 

 in the old genus Maranta, which see. The Kew 

 Mus. collections contain examples of Carab 

 baskets, from Dominica, made of the split stems 

 of /. arouma, and a suriana for carrying bur- 

 dens on the back, made from the same material 

 in British Guiana. Indian baskets are also 

 made in the last-named country from the split 

 stems of the Mucro, I. pturispicatus. I. ohliquus 

 is another British Guiana species the fiber of 

 which is used by the Indians. See Maranta. 



i-Tshanyela (Natal). 

 coides. 



Athrixia phyll- 



Ischaemum angustifolium. 

 Grass of India. 



Bhabue 



Fig. 6(5. 



-Bliabur grass, Ischcemuiu angus- 

 tifolium. 



Endogen. Graminece. A perennial grass. 



A grass closely approaching the esparto in 

 habit, and possessing the qualities requisite 

 for paper manufacture which was first brought 

 to notice by Dr. King, of the Royal Botanical 

 Garden of Calcutta, in 1877, though at that time confounded with Eriojphorum comosum. 

 The grass is used in paper making and in the manufacture of strings, ropes, and 

 mats. (See fig. Q6.) For further description, cultivation, etc., see Die. Ec. Prod. 

 Ind., Vol. IV, p. 526; Bull. Royal Gardens, Kew, 1888, p. 157. 



* Specimens. — Bot. Mus. PTarv. Univ. 



Isitebe mat (Natal). See Kyllinga elatior. 



Istle (Mex.). Commercial Tampico. See Agave heteracantha. 



Iturite fiber (see Ischnosiphon ohliquus). 



Itzle, the same as Istle. 



Ivory plant. Phytelephas macrocarpa. 



Iwaiwa (Hawaii). See Adiantum. 



