DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 299 



Silk, Vegetable (see Silk cotton). 



Silk wool, of Orozuz. Gonolobus maritimus and Ibatia muricata, of 

 Dr. Ernst's list. 



Simal tree, of India. Bombax malabaricum. 



Sincara (Peru). See Maranta. 



Sinlo-kawa (Jap.). Cocos nucifera. 



Sinu-mataiavi (Fiji). Wilcstrocmia viridiflora. 



Sisal hemp (see Agave rigtda, varieties). 



Slender spike rush. Eleocharis acuta. 



Slender sword rush. Lepidosperma flexuosum. 



Slough grass (used for binding - twine). See Garex vulpinoidea. 



Snake gourd (see Luff a cegyptiaca). 



Soap berry. Sapindus saponaria. 



Soap plants. Chloragalum pomeridianum, Sapindus saponaria, Yucca 



baccata. 

 Sola, or Shola (Beng.). Mscliyomene aspera. 

 Solidago canadensis, Canada Golden Rod. 



Exogen. Compositce. A perennial herb. 

 The golden rods are so familiar that they need no description. They can hardly 

 be called fiber plants, but Dr. Havard informs me (on the authority of V. L. Porcher) 

 that the stalks of the above species, which are numerous, straight, and almost 5 feet 

 in height, afford very strong fiber when treated in the same manner as hemp. 



Somewake-Mushiro. Japan matting. Cyperus unitans. 



Sosquil. One of the Mexican names ol sisal hemp. See Agave rigida. 



Soymida febrifuga. Indian Bastard Cedar. 



Exogen. Meliacece. A lofty tree. 

 Northwestern, central, and southern India, extending to Ceylon. Known as 

 Rohun, Hind., Rohan, Beng., etc. The reddish fiber, derived from the bark, is used 

 in Chutea Nagpur for strong ropes. 



Spanish bayonet (U. S.). Yucca aloifolia and other species. 

 Spanish needle (Triii.). Yucca aloifolia. 

 Sparmannia africana. 



Exogen. Tiliacece. Shrubs, 3 to 12 feet. 



Native of Africa. Common in greenhouses, and thus introduced into many coun- 

 tries; flourishes in Victoria, where its growth is rapid. 



Bast Fiber,— The museum specimens of this fiber were received from tbe Phil. 

 Int. Exh., 1876, and were prepared in Victoria by Dr. Guilfoyle. The fiber is of a 

 beautiful silvery-gray color when it has been properly prepared. Some of the fila- 

 ments are brilliant and lustrous, and it possesses considerable strength ; in fact, seems 

 almost equal to China grass in tenacity. "The fiber, which is produced in large 

 quantities (in Victoria), is of a very fine texture. For many purposes it is equal, if 

 not superior, to the Chinese grass cloth plant." (Dr. Guilfoyle.) 



