DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 251 



Nepenthes distillatoria. Pitcher Plant. 



Exogen. Xepenthaceiv. Evergreen undershrub. 



There are about 20 species of this genus, natives of Borneo, Sumatra, and the 

 Indian Archipelago, X. distillatoria being found in Ceylon. The pitchers of this 

 species are partly filled with water before they open ; hence the specific name. In 

 Ceylon it grows in great abundance in wet low country, particularly where the wet 

 ground has a sandy bottom. The plants trail over trees and bushes. 



Woody Fiber. — This is called "one of the most useful cordage plants of Ceylon." 

 Tl.e trailing stems afford cords known by the native name bandura-wel. "It is used 

 very largely in building fences, walls, and sometimes in fixing the rafters of native 

 cottages. In the manufacture of baskets it plays an important part, its pliability 

 rendering it extremely easy to manipulate. " (Handbook of Ceylon, W. C. E., 1893.) 



Nesselhanf. German name for Urtica spp. 

 Nettle. 



The nettles may be separated into the stinging and stingless forms ; Urtica is an 

 example of the former, Boehmeria of the latter. Other genera of nettles are Girard- 



inia, Luportea, Urera, etc. The fever , Laportea crenulata; gigantic of 



Australia, L. gigas ; of India, Celtis caucasica or australis ; The Nilghiri , Girard- 



inia palmata ; the stinging of Europe, Urtica dioca; of the United States, U. 



gracilis; the stingless , common name of the China grass and ramie plants, 



Boehmeria nivea and tenacissima. 



New Orleans moss (see Tillandsia). 

 New Zealand flax (see Phormium tenax). 

 Neyanda fiber (Ceyl.). See Sansevieria guineensis. 

 Ngutunui (New Zea.). See Phormium. 

 Nidularium (see Karatas). 

 Niggi (Ind.). Daphne cannabina. 

 Nilghiri nettle (see Girardinia palmata), 

 Nin (Hawaii). Cocos nucifera. 

 Nipa fruticans. The Kip ah Palm. 



Endogen. Palmce. 

 Portions of India and the Andaman Islands, in the river estuaries and tide lands. 

 Dr. Watt states that the leaves are used for thatching houses and for mattings. 

 Hats and cigar cases are made of the fronds. The palm has other economic uses, as 

 for food, spirits, etc. Cigarette wrappers are made of the leaves, and commonly 

 used in Malacca. 



Nipah palm (see the preceding). 

 Niyanda (Oeyl.). See Sansevieria guineensis. 

 Noix d'Areca (see Areca catechu.) 

 Nolina spp. 



The plants of this genus resemble those of Dasylirion, the leaves being long and 

 narrow, and finely serrated on the edges. They abound in the Southwestern United 

 States where the Yuccas are found most common. 



Structural Fiber. — U N. texana, N. lindhelmeriana, and N. microcarpa, of the South- 

 west, all have abundant narrow leaves, strong and flexible, much used by Mexicans 



