324 USEFUL FIBER PLAXTS OF THE WORLD. 



U. parviflora is an Indian species found in the temperate Himalayas. It yields a 

 fiber, though little is known ahout it; like the allied species, is doubtless nsed in 

 cordage, etc. 



Urtica gracilis. The Slender Nettle. 



Nova Scotia to British Columbia; southward To North Carolina, Louisiana; 

 Kansas. A native species, abounding throughout the United States and Canada. 

 As it is related to the ramie plant it naturally possesses a good liber in its hark, 

 though the stinging hairs which clothe its stalks and leaves m^ke it unpleasant to 



handle. 



Ba-i Fiber. — Many specimens have been received by the Department of Agricul- 

 ture gathered from weather-beaten stalks found standing in the fields, though the 

 special agent in charge of fiber investigations has never seen a properly prepared 

 sample of the liber from fresh stalks, and is unable to describe its characteristics. A 

 few years ago it attracted attention in Minnesota, and an attempt was made to 

 reduce the fiber, though the experiment was interrupted before completion, and no 

 report could be made. From a communication to the Department by J. Carmichael 

 Allen, in 1891, the following extract is produced: 



I have about a half ton of the straw of Urtica gracilis retting, and will furnish 

 you with samples of the fiber as soon as ready. It seems a close relative of the 

 Boelnnerla fiber, though whether dew retting will prove a successful system or not 

 for this plant I shall not be prepared to say until I scutch some of it. I inclose a 

 sample of tow I made from a few stems this afternoon. You will see it is not suffi- 

 ciently retted and the fiber though soft does not appear to be over strong. From the 

 nature and feel of it I expect it will be better adapted to mix vith wool than as a 

 substitute for flax, and this comes more under the Rhea class. 



Iuthis connection, it may be stated that the fiber of Girardinia palmata ( U. lielero- 

 phyUa), which is found in Coromandel, Xepal, Burmah, Assam, etc., is known as vege- 

 table wool, and it is claimed that the filaments of this species, "having a rougher 

 surface than those of Boelxmeria nirea (China grass), are, therefore, more easily com- 

 bined with wool in mixed fabrics. r Another species which may be mentioned is 

 U. caracasana, a Tahiti form, from which a good fiber is obtained. 



Uruca (Braz.). Bixa orellana. 



Urucuri palm (Braz.). Attalea excelsa. 



Usir (Arab.). Andropogon squarrosus. 



Uttariya jute (Ind.). See Corehorus. 



Vacona (also Baconai (Maurit). Pandanus utilis. 



Vanilla grass. Hierochloe odorata. 



Vasha and Vellacoi (Malay). Mwfa sapientum. 



Vegetable silk (see cotton — silk cottons; refer also to artificial silk). 



Vegetable wool (see Girardinia palmata; see also Urtica gracilis). 



Velvet mallow. Lavatera maritima. 



Vendi, or Venda-kaya (Ind.). Hibiscus esculentus. 



Vetivert. Andropogon squarrosus. 



Viburnum spp. 



An extensive genus <>r shrubs, natives of the temperate regions of Noi th America. 

 Asia, and Africa. The wood of several species is used for turnery, etc. Another 



