DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 



303 



Spear Lily (Vict.). Doryanthes excelsa. 



Sphaeralcea cisplatina. 



This genus of Malvaceae is closely allied to Malva, and includes a number of trop- 

 ical American species. S. cisplatina, the fiber of Malvalisco, is us.ed in Brazil to a 

 slight extent. S. umbellata is a Mexican species, known in Australia as the Globe 

 mallow. Guilfoyle states that its bast yields silky fiber, useful for cordage. 



Sphagnum spp. 



A genus of mosses, essentially aquatic plants, or plants requiring a great deal of 

 moisture. They do not yield fiber, but on account of the softness and elasticity of 

 the plauts in mass they make an admira- 

 ble packing material. The plants form _/?/ 

 turf beds rapidly, but unless mixed with 

 other plauts the turf is spongy and un- 

 fitted for use. S. cymbifolium, bog moss, 

 is used in Norway, in house construction, 

 for stuffing between the timbers to ren- 

 der the house water-tight. "S. vulgar e 

 is a German species, which has been used 

 for paper." (Bemardin.) Some of the 

 American species are employed in nur- 

 series as a packing material for living 

 plants. In other countries the material 

 has been used in a dry state for packing 

 fine glassware. 



Spike rush (see Elsocharis). 

 Sponge cucumber (see Luff a). 

 Sponia (see Trema). 



Sporobolus cryptandrus. 



Prairie Grass. 



A strongly rooted perennial grass 2 to 

 3 feet high, common on the Western 

 plains and in the Rocky Mountain re- 

 gion. It is well liked by stock, and 

 where it occurs abundantly is very gen- 

 erally regarded as an important forage 

 plant. (See fig. 97.) 



Structural Fiber.— In 1891 a speci- 

 men of this grass was sent to the Depart- 

 ment from Kansas by a correspondent, who stated that its superior strength recom- 

 mended it as a useful fiber plant, and that it was worthy of cultivation as a raw 

 material for paper stock, and possibly for cordage manufacture. The grass first 

 makes its appearance on ground that has been plowed, and that has lain fallow for 

 one or two years. The farmers have given it various names such as "tow grass," 

 "leather grass," "shoe-string grass," etc. 



The fibrous portion of the plant appears to be the leaf sheaths of the blossom 

 stalk, and some of these are very strong, but of too short length to utilize in manu- 

 facture. The average of several tests of these leaf sheaths, twisted together, showed 

 a breaking strain of 65 pounds, while the lower stem portion of the plant broke at 

 20 pounds. The length of the sheath is from 12 to 15 inches. The grass would make 

 a very strong paper, of better quality than ordinary wrapping paper, and no doubt 



Fig. 97.— Prairie grass, Sporobolus cryptandrus. 



