318 USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



portions of the globe, their elongated spikes of brilliant scarlet or yellow flowers 

 making them favorite ornamental garden plants. 



The revised name of this genus is Kniphqfia. 



Structural Fiber. — It is said that T. recurvata and T. uvdria are utilized as fiber 

 plants at the Cape of Good Hope. The leaves are crushed and macerated in hot 

 water, when the fibers readily separate. "As fiber plants they were first brought 

 under notice by me in 1875, samples of five kinds having been prepared in the 

 Botanical Gardens, and since forwarded to several exhibitions. It will be seen that 

 the present specimens are of fair strength and quality, and possibly they are capable 

 of being woven into fine textile fabrics. The plants are all quick-growing peren- 

 nials, producing a wealth of long leafage, and are readily increased by root division 

 and seeds. With good cultivation they would yield two crops per year, and the fiber 

 can be obtained within a few hours by boiling or steaming the leaves. The great- 

 flowered Torch Lily {Kniphofia grandijlora) and the 'Recurved Torch Lily ' ( Kniphofia 

 recurvata) are probably the strongest and best iu quality, and these give the greatest 

 percentage of fiber. A letter from a London firm of manufacturers states the value 

 of this fiber and that of Sparmannia africana to be from £17 to £17 10s per ton." 

 (Dr. Guilfoyle.) The fiber of T. uvaria, known as the Queen's torch lily, furnishes 

 a strong fiber of a chocolate color. The uses of these fibers in manufacture are not 

 stated in any of the works examined by the compiler. 



Triumfetta rhomboidea. 



Endogen. Tiliaceas. A shrub. 



Indiax names. — Ghikti (Hind.); Bun-ochra (Beng.). 



The plants of the genus are both numerous and widely distributed, abounding in 

 tropical countries in many parts of the world. T. rhomboidea is found in tropical 

 India and Ceylon. " The plant yields a soft, glossy fiber which is said to be consider- 

 ably utilized in Madras." (Watt.) This is a jute-like fiber, the genus being very 

 closely allied to Corchorus. 



Specimens of the fiber of T. semitriloba were received from the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution in 1869, without data save the name. The fiber very closely resembles jute 

 in color, strength, and general characteristics. This species is grown in Trinidad, 

 where it is known as Cousine Mahoe, but it is regarded more for its medicinal prop- 

 erties than for its fiber. T. longicoma is a useful Brazilian species, reported by 

 Lofgren. 



Tronadora (Mex.). Abutilon incanum. 



Troolie palm (Guian.). Manicaria saccifera. 



Trumpet tree. Cecropia peltata. 



Tsai-lai and Hsele (Burm.). Daphne cannabinum. 



Tsjo (Jap.). See Boelimeria nivea. 



Tucum and Tecuma (S. Am.). See Astrocaryum spp. 



Tukhme-katan (Pers.) Linum usitatlssimum. 



Tule (California). 8ci)pns Jacustris. 



Tulhtula (Pers. and Arab.). Musa sapientum. 



Turu palm (Br. Guian.). (Enocarpus. 



Tururi (Pern). Paullinia grandijlora. 



Tuthi-nar or Tutti (Ind.). Abutilon asiaticum and indicum. 



Tye plant of Australia. Gommersonia fraseri. 



