334 USEFUL FIBER PLANTS OF THE WORLD. 



STRUCTURAL Fiber. — Dr. Palmer says of this species, " The leaves yield the softest 

 fiber of all the Yuccas.*' A very good fiber is extracted from tbis species which is 

 capable of employment in general cordage. The specimens in the Museum came 

 from San Diego, Cal. The Kew Mus. shows a series of the fibers of both Y.glauca 

 and Y.gloriosa. "All the Yucca plants are used for basketry and other purpo-e-." 

 (Feu-lex. | This species is largely used by the Indians of the regions where it grows, 

 and particularly by the Moquis, Zulus, etc., for basketry of all kinds, horse bridles 

 and halters, and rude cordage. In basket manufacture the leaves are either used 

 entire or are split, sometimes even to the fineness of grass fiber, and woven in con- 

 nection with the peeled twigsof other plants, grasses, etc. In the manufacture of 

 coil baskets by the Hopi Indians, which have the appearance that would be pre- 

 sented by coiling a half-inch rope into the form of a shallow tray, a common grass 

 Hilaria jamesii (see is used for the center of the '"rope," this being wrapped round 

 and round, as the coil is being made, with narrow strips of the leaves of this Yucca. 

 the whole when knit together forming a strong and very ornamental basket, as the 

 leaf strips are dyed in different colors. Simpler forms of bowls, trays, and haskets 

 are made from the entire leaves by plain weaving, mat fashion, using the broad 

 of the leaves, which are turned over the edge of the basket, for a finish. The 

 natural yeltow color of the leaves, showing white where the leaf is split, makes an 

 attractive article. The U. S. Nat. Mus. has a large series of basketry from Y. (jlauca, 

 as well as many other objects. 



* Specimens. — Fiber, Mus. U. S. Dept. Ag. ; U. S. Nat. Mus. 



Yucca elata is another narrow-leaved species, found in New Mexico and along the 

 more northerly range of Y. (jlauca, the leaves of which closely resemble that species, 

 though they are whiter in color and more brittle. The edges of the leaves are also 

 Filamentous. >~o reference to its use as a fiber plant can be cited. 



Yucca whipplei. 



This is another Californian species of Yucca, samples of fiber and cordage of which 

 have been received, collected by Dr. E. Palmer, who states that the leaves yield a 

 very soft white fiber, which is capable of being made into very nice thread. Indians 

 use this fiber to form a padding for their horse blankets, the outer part of which, 

 being made of the fiber from the Yucca Ixiecata, is very rough. A wooden needle is 

 threaded with twine made from the same fiber, and the lining is firmly quilted to 

 the saddle blanket, forming a soft covering, without which it would injure the 

 animal's back. 



Yute ( Peru) = Jute. Corckorus. 



Zaghu and Zaghir (Pers.). Ziggar (Turk.). Linum usitatissimum. 



Zasmidium cellare (see under Fomes). 

 Zea mays. Indian Cob-n. 



Endogen. Graminece. A giant grass. 



Common and native names. — Indian corn, corn, maize (Eng. : Metis 1'r. : 

 Mais and Turkischkom (Ger.); Trigo de Inda*. etc. Sp.); Durdh-shdmi (Arab.) ; 

 Guadumemakkah (Pers.) ; Cholam (Malay : Bulta, Junri, Makka, Mall atari, etc. 

 (Tnd.). (Makkai, = "Mecca," or " Mecca corn." 

 Native America: cultivated from a remote antiquity by the Peruvians and Mexi- 

 cans; unknown to Europe prior to the discovery of America. Cultivated throughout 

 the world, chiefly as food for both man and animals. 



The many varieties differ much in the form, size, color, and hardness of the grain, 

 and in the time required for ripening. Husk maize, in which the kernels are sepa- 

 rately enveloped in broad, herbaceous glumes, may approach the native form, which 

 doubtless had its origin in tropical America. Mais tU coyote, regarded by some as 



