DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 233 



Maize, or Indian Corn (see Zea mays). 

 Majagua. 



A collective name employed in Spanish-speaking countries for the bast fibers of 

 nialvaceous and similar plants (see Malioe); often used with an affix, as Majagua 

 clarellina (see Pachira). Two unidentified fibers from the Mexican exhibit, W. C. E., 



1893, were named tie tomillo, and de rejuco. The term is applied in Costa 



Rica to Hibiscus tiliaceus. 



Majaguillo (Venez.). See Muntingia. 



Makaw palm (Braz.). Acrocomia sclerocarpa. The Great Makaw 

 Palm is A. lasiospatha. 



Makkah, Makkai, Makkajari, etc. (Pers. and Ind.) Zea mays. 



Malachra capitata. Wild Okra. 



A nialvaceous shrub occurring in tropical America, India, and other countries; 

 probably a native of South America. 



Fiber. — A fine/example of its bast was secured from the exhibit of British Guiana, 

 W. C. E., 1893, which, with a specimen from Trinidad, is shown in the museum col- 

 lection. The first named was 8 or 9 feet long - , jute like in appearance, though more 

 yellow, and rather coarse. This, or an allied species, is found in Trinidad where the 

 plant grows wild in damp situations. It is found in Venezuela. Spon states that 

 when well cleaned it is almost as soft as silk, having a silvery luster, and is 8 to 9 

 feet in length. 



In India it is supposed to be an introduced plant, native of the Congo basin of 

 tropical Africa, and is regarded by Dr. Watt as a jute substitute. The fiber has 

 been much admired in India, but efforts to introduce it into cultivation (in Bombay) 

 resulted in failure. A very full account of the experimental cultivation of M. capitata 

 in India appears in the Die. Ec. Prod. Ind., Vol. V. 



In Bernardin's list M. radiata (Pavonia sessiliflora) is mentioned from Trinidad, and 

 M. urens from Jamaica, while the " Guimauve" a species with yellow flowers, found 

 in the Antilles, is called M. orata. 



Malaguete (Braz.). Xylopia sericea. 



Ma-lo (Figi). See Broussonetia. 



Maloo climber (Ind.). See Bauhinia racemosa. 



Mallow. 



The common mallow of India, Malva sylvestris. The musk , Hibiscus abelmos- 



chus ; the swamp rose , H. moscheutos ; the Indian , Abutilon avicennce; 



marsh , Althcea officinalis; velvet 3 Lavatera maritima. Mallow is also 



a collective name applied to the family of malvaceous plants. 



Malva sylvestris. 



Exogen. Malvaceae. Erect glabrous herb. 



Native names. — Khubaz (Bomb, and Arab.) ; Ichatmi (Beng.) etc. ; mauve (Ft.). 

 Western temperate Himalayas; distributed to Europe, Siberia, and northern 

 Africa. 



Bast Fiber. — Spon states that the fiber of M. sylvestris, M. rotundifolia, and M. 

 crispa are widely utilized. M. peruviana is credited to Peru, and M. sylvestris to 

 Spain, Portugal, and Italy, as well as to India. Royle states that M. sylvestris abounds 

 in fiber. 



Malvalisco (Braz.). See Sphwralcea. 



