DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 237 



black ornamental figures of their finely woven baskets. (/''. V. Coville.) See under 

 Salix lasiandra. 



Marul and Murva (Hind.). Sansevieria zeylanica. 

 Marzuolo (straw plait) (It.). See Triticum. 

 Massette (Fr.). Typha angustifolia. 

 Mastinazia spp. 



I find no reference to this genus other than in the manuscript notes supplied by 

 Mr. Dorca, of Lima, Peru. The Cdmona, M. cariotifolia, and the Chonta, M. ciliata, 

 are said to yield fibrous bark. Camona also given to an Iriartea. 



Mata-mata (Braz.). Lecythis coriacea. 

 Matapalo (Peru). Fieus dendrocida. 

 Matondo (Afr.). See Brachystegia. 

 Mats and matting. 



For table of fibrous substances used for, see Economic Classification, page 32. 



Mati (Viti). Wilcstrcemia foetida. 

 Matting, commercial. 



Chinese and Korean, refer to Cyperus tegetiformis ; Indian, Cyperus corymbosus, C. 

 esculentus, C. tegetum; Japanese, Cyperus unitans and Juncus effusus. The Tinnevelly 

 mattings of India are made from C. corymbosus and C. tegetum, the former species 

 being used in the finer kinds. Other species of rushes and sedges are also employed 

 in matting manufacture, but the above species are most commonly used. 



Mauritia flexuosa. The Eta or It A Palm. 



Endogen. Palmes. Palm tree, 80 to 100 feet. 



Native of Brazil, but found in British Guiana and other regions of South America. 

 Abundant on the banks of the Amazon, Rio Negro, and Orinoco rivers. Known in 

 Venezuela as the Moriche palm. The Aguaje of Peru. The sap yields a palm wine, 

 the leaves supply another beverage, and a sago is prepared from the soft inner por- 

 tion of the stem. The tree often inhabits swampy ground liable to inundation. 

 (See fig. 80.) 



Structural Fiber. — This is prepared from the outer skin of the young leaves, 

 the strips from which dry in a thread-like form. It is known as Tibisiri fiber in 

 British Guiana, where it is used by the natives for hammocks and general cordage 

 purposes. According to E. F. im Thurn, "the leaf when fully developed is fan- 

 shaped, but it first appears folded in a spike, which springs from the very center of 

 the plant. It is from this spike that the fiber is obtained. Fiber taken from the 

 spikes of old plants is not nearly as strong as that taken from young plants. Each 

 leaf or spike is taken off singly; a sharp, dextrous rub at the top separates the outer 

 shin, and the whole is then torn off. This is the fiber, the rest is waste. It is fur- 

 ther prepared by boiling, drying in the sun, and twisting into strings. The fiber 

 from a dozen long spikes is sufficient to make a large hammock. Both Tibisiri and 

 Crowia fiber are twisted into string in a very simple and ingenuous way, but one 

 which would be impossible to all except people such as these Indians. A proper 

 number of parallel fibers are held firmly by one end in the left hand, the remainder 

 of the fibers resting across the naked right thigh. The palm of the right hand is 

 laid across the fibers, and therefore parallel to the thigh. By a very rapid downward 

 and sideward motion of the right hand, followed by a slight backward motion, the 

 fibers are rolled downward along the thigh and become spirally twisted. The single 

 straw is used for hammocks, three strands for bowlines, and three of the triple cords 

 (sometimes nine strands) for making hammock ropes." 



