69 



The bark yields a fibre of good quality, suitable for the manu- 

 facture of bags, twine, &c, and in every way a good substitute for 

 Jute. It is also regarded as a fair substitute for Flax (Diet. Econ. 

 Prod. Ind.). Samples sent to Kew in 3889 were valued at from 

 £17-£18 per ton (Morris, Comm. Fib. Journ. Soc. Arts, 1895, 

 p. 907). Samples that have been examined at the Imperial 

 Institute, show that it contains over 75 per cent, of cellulose ; 

 has a staple of from 3-6 feet, and length of ultimate fibre 

 l*5-3*5 mm. The market value of the samples examined was 

 given at approximately £17-£18 per ton (Bull. Imp. Inst. 1903, 

 p. 24 ; 1908, p. 134). 



This plant is believed to be the source of " Aramina " fibre, a 

 comparatively new substitute for Jute in the manufacture of 

 Coffee bags. These bags are considered especially valuable for 

 the purpose, inasmuch as they have no influence on the aroma of 

 the Coffee (De Wildeman, PI. Util. Congo, Art. xvi. p. 205). 



At the factory at Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the manufacture of goods 

 from Aramina fibre ; the price paid is about Id. per lb. or about 

 £9 10s. per ton (Cons. Rep. Ann. No. 2928, 1903, p. 11). 



The bark is used in Yoruba to make ropes, and also as a tying 

 material in house-building (Kew Bull. 1891, p. 212), similarly in 

 Angola (Hiern, Cat. Welw. Afr. PI. i. p. 67). The root, applied 

 externally, is a remedy for rheumatism (Diet. Econ. Prod. Ind.). 



The plant is used medicinally as a mucilage (Moloney, For. 

 W. Afr. p. 282) ; and it has been mentioned as forage for cattle 

 (De Wildeman, PI. Util. Congo, Art. xxxi. p. 548). 



The cultivation would in all probability be easy, on somewhat 

 similar lines to those advised for Abutilon indicum or Gorchorus 

 capsular is. The plant is very common on waste ground, and on 

 abandoned farms. Dr. Lester of the Gambia Delimitation Com- 

 mission observed the plant growing in dry sandy soil, and in flat 

 swampy country ; common everywhere (Kew Bull. 1891, p. 269). 



Kef. — "Aramina Fibre from the Carrapicho Plant of Brazil," 

 in Bull. Imp. Inst, 1903, pp. 24-25 ; 1905, p. 262 ; 1907, pp. 9-10. 



Urena sinuata, Linn. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 189 (Urena lobata). 



111.— Rheede, Hort. Mai. x. t. 2 ; Burman, Thes. Zeyl. t, 69 f 2. 

 (Malvinda foliis, &c.) ; Cav. Diss. t. 185, f. 2 ; Lam. Encycl. 

 t, 583. 



Vernac. name. — Rama (Nupe, Dudgeon). 



Bida, N. Nigeria. Found throughout India. 



Uses and cultivation as Urena lobata. Cultivated in the Niger 

 districts for the sake of its fibre (Barter, Fl. Trop. Afr. i. p. 189). 



Hibiscus, Medik. 



Hibiscus Abelmoschus, Linn. • Fl. Trop. Afr. I. p. 207. 



JZZ.— Rheede, Hort. Mai. ii. t. 38; Rumpf, Amb. iv. t. 15 j 

 Plenck, Ic. t. 543 ; Desc. Ant. v. t. 361 ; Blanco, Fl. Filip. t. 245. 



Musk Mallow ; Grains d'ambrette. 



Cultivated throughout West Africa and most tropical countries. 



