216 



USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



it is obtained from /.. grandiflora, and likewise from /.. crassinoda. In Venezuela, 

 L. coriacea is known as Marima colorada. The fiber of a Brazilian species without 

 name is said by Saldanha da Gama to he used for calkin- vessels. The hark of 

 another species growing abundantly throughout the Amazon region, and known as 

 Maid-maid, yields an oakum that is excellent for calking canoes, according To a cata- 

 logue of Woods of Amazon. W. C. E., 1893. 



Leopoldinia piassaba. Monkey Bass. 

 Endogen. Palmer. Palm, 15 to 40 feet. 

 This tree grows abundantly near the White River, which flows into the Barra de 



Rio Negro, as well as on some of 

 the tributaries of the Orinoco; 

 it i- also found in the Amazon 

 basin ; but the bulk of its liber 

 comes from the Barra de Rio 

 Negro. Its habitat is low, 

 sandy Hats, where water may 

 stand a little in rainy weather; 

 but it avoids swamps. (Spon.) 

 One of the Brazilian palms 

 which supplies the commercial 

 Piassaba, or Piaraba fiber now 

 exported in such quantities. 

 Two species furnish the com- 

 mercial product, L. piassaba, 

 the Para fiber, and Altalea funi- 

 fera, the Bahia fiber, though in 

 recent years another form has 

 been sent from the west coast of 

 Africa, known as West African 

 Bass, Paplua vimfera. See also 

 Borassus flabeUifcr and Dicti/o- 

 sperma fibrosum. 



Structural Fiber.— Lcopol- 

 (liaia jiiassaba. "The dilate 

 margins of the petioles, where 

 they clasp the stem, are produced into long ribbon-like strips, which afterwards 

 split into fine, somewhat round fibers, about 5 to 6 feet long, entirely concealing 

 the stem. These fibers, cleaned and combed by hand, form the piassaba of com- 

 merce."' (Dr. Morris.) 



The commercial fiber is used for brush making, and for brooms, though the natives 

 employ it for cables, ropes, baskets, hats, as a tie material, and for other purposes. 

 * Specimens of heavy cordage from this species were received from the Brazilian 

 exhibit of the Phil. Int. Exh., 1876, which are now in the museum of the Depart- 

 ment. The Para "Bass" is said to absorb more water than the Bahia. The Para 

 fiber now forms less than 5 per cent of the piassaba of commerce, and commands a 

 high price. 



Lepidosperma flexuosum. The Slender Sword Rush. 



Endogen. ( 'yperaa a . 



Found in Victoria and Tasmania. Several species of this genus have been enu- 

 merated as fiber-producing plants, fiber having been prepared from them. 



Structural Fiber. — A specimen of the fiber of L. flexuosum was secured from the 

 Victorian collection, Phil. Int. Exh., 187G. It is exceedingly brittle, and can only 

 be used in mats or similar articles, where it can be coarsely plaited. According to 

 Dr. Guilfoyle, the material can be had in large quantities, and is extensively used 

 by the aborigines for baskets, mats, etc. lie states that "under proper treatment 



Fig. 73. 



I/ 1 I:'. 



-The Para Piassaba palm, Leopoldinia piassaba . 



