DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 235 



carried on between the Indians and the planters on the coast in these leaves, with 

 which to thatch buildings on the sugar estates. (E. F. im Thurn.) 



Structural Fiber. — The iibrous spathes of this palm are well adapted for use in 

 the manufacture of caps, mats, etc. They are also converted into bags, by simply 

 cutting round them near the bottom and pulling them off entire, afterward stretch- 

 ing them open as wide as possible without tearing. When cut down one side and 

 opened they supply a coarse but strong fabric, or kind of cloth. 



M. plukeneiii is a Guatemala species, represented, with the above, in the Kew Mus. 

 collection — not now, however, considered as distinct from the above. 



Manila hemp (Phil. Is.). See Musa textilis. 

 Manorrin. Chippewa Indians. Zizania aquatica. 



Mao. In Jap., China grass, Boehmeria; in Hawaii, Gossypium tomen- 



tosum. 

 Maoutia puya. Wild hemp ; Pua hemp. 



Syn. Boehmeria puya, and B. fruteseens. 



Exogen. Urticacew. A shrub. 

 Native of tropical Himalayas, Assam Valley, Burma, Straits Settlements, and 

 Japan. Known as p6%, pooali, puya, Jcyinki, etc. 



Bast Fiber. — Closely resembles the fiber of the Boehmerias and is prepared in 

 the same manner. "Pooah is principally used for fishing nets, for which it is admira- 

 bly adapted on account of the great strength of the fiber and its extraordinary 

 power of long resisting the effects of water. It is also used for making game bags, 

 twine, and ropes. It is considered well adapted for making cloth, but is not much 

 used in this way." (Boyle.) For further accounts see Royle, Fibrous Plants of 

 India; Watt, Die. Ec. Prod. Ind., Vol. V; Spon's Enc, Div. III. 



Maraja (Braz.). See Bactris. 



Marram, or Marum Holl. (see Ammophila). 



Maranta. 



Many species of the genus Maranta have been referred to other genera, but as their 

 fibers are unimportant the few to which I find references will be mentioned under 

 this genus. The species are chiefly natives of tropical America, though M. arundi- 

 nacea, which supplies the arrowroot of commerce, has been distributed to other coun- 

 tries. M. sanguinea (now Stromanthe sanguinea) is mentioned both in Bernardin's 

 Catalogue and in the Flax and Hemp Commission list, the fiber being described as 2\ 

 feet in length. Fiber has also been produced from M. arundinacea. The split stems 

 and leaves of M. dichotoma (now Clinogyne dichotoma), an India species, are made into 

 mats to use as awnings. Maranta obliqua (now Ischnosiphon ohliquus) is a native of 

 British Guiana. Spon states that the fiber is used by the Indians for making their 

 pegalls. See Ischnosiphon. Fig. 79 is if. arundinacea. 



Marima color ada (Venez.). See Lecythis eoriacea. 



Marool (Ind.). See Sansevieria. 



Marsdenia tenacissima. Eajmahal Creeper. 



Exogen. Asclepiadacea >„ Small climber. 



Common and native names. — Rajmahal hemp (Ind.); Jiti and Chiti (Beng.); 

 Muruvd-diil (Ceyl.); Tongus (Hind). The Jetee fiber of Royle's Indian Fibers; 

 sometimes called the bowstring creeper. 

 India, throughout the lower Himalayas, Assam, and Burmah; Lower hills of 

 Bengal. 



