DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



253 



CEnocarpus bacaba. The Turu Palm, or Baccaba. 



There are six or seven species of this genus of Brazilian palms, the plants abound- 

 ing chiefly on the banks of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. They are lofty trees, 

 with smooth, straight stems, crowned with a cluster of pinnate leaves. The ahove 

 species yields a Piassaba-like fiber. In some parts of British Guiana, where the tree 

 is known as the Turu palm, the leaves are used for thatching. (E. bataua is found in 

 the State of Para, where it is said "to furnish the strongest ropes for the navy." 

 (E. distichus is an allied species, mentioned by Orton, and Euterpe (CEnocarpus) acu- 

 minata is the Anonillo of Costa Rica. 

 Several of the species yield a color- 

 less oil, which is used to adulterate 

 sweet oil in Para. See figs. £6 and 87. 



Oetan ( Malay )= wild, or per 

 taining to forests. 



Elceis 



Oil Palm of Africa. 



gmneensis. 



Oi-moi (China). Jute. See 

 Corchorus. 



Oiselle hemp (see Hibiscus 

 sabdariffa). 



Okra and Okrho (see Hibiscus 

 esculentus). 



Olona fiber (Hawaii). See 

 Touchardia. 



Op-nai (Burm.). Streblus 

 asper. 



Opuhe (Hawaii). See Urera 

 sandivicensis. 



Opuritia spp. Prickly Pear , 



The prickly pears form a large 

 genus, confined to the American 

 continent, though distributed to 

 many other countries. 0. polycan- 

 tha is the species most common in 

 western United States, while 0. humifusa is fouud in Florida. 0. dillenii, a South 

 American species, has been noted as a possible fiber plant iu India, but "the sam- 

 ples of fiber shown at the Colonial and Indian exhibitions were pronounced worthless 

 by the paper makers who examined them." (Dr. Watt.) The experience of the writer 

 with the prickly pear cactus in Florida leads to the suggestion that the mere gather- 

 ing of the material would be a costly operation. 



Oreodoxa regia. Eoyal Palm. 



Endogen. Palmce. A noble palm, 60 to 90 feet. 



The magnificent palm is met with in certain localities in Florida, chiefly " Little 

 and Big Palm Hummocks/' 15 and 25 miles east of Cape Romano, and also on Elliott's 

 Key. Grows in the West Indies, where it is known as Palma Real. The genus 

 Oreodoxa includes six species of graceful palms indigenous to tropical America. 



Structural Fiber. — Not used in Florida for any purpose; quite rare. Dr. Parry, 



Fig. 



The Patawa, CEnocarpus bataua. 

 old trees. 



Young and 



