20 



Brisbane Garden, 1874, is said to have stems 40-50 feet high, leaves 

 5-6 feet long, and fruit 3-4 inches long. 



*18. M. textilis, Nee; (M. mindanensis, Riimph) ; M. sylvestris, Colla; 

 M. troglodytarum textoria, Blanco. Stem cylindrical, green, 20 feet 

 or more high, stoloniferous from the base. Leaves oblong, deltoid at 

 the base, bright green above, rather glaucous beneath, smaller and 

 firmer in texture than those of M. sapientum ; petiole a foot long. 

 Spike drooping, shorter than the leaves ; male flowers deciduous ; 

 bracts firmer in texture than those of M. sapientum, naked and polished 

 outside, not at all pruinose, brown. Female flowers in several laxly- 

 disposed clusters. Fruit green, oblong trigonous, curved, 2-3 inches 

 long, 1 inch diameter, not narrowed to the apex, but narrowed to the 

 short stout stipe, not edible, but filled with seed. Seeds black, 

 turbinate, J inch diameter, angled by pressure. Distribution ; — 

 Widely distributed and cultivated in the Philippine Islands under 

 the name of Abaca. It ascends the mountains in the wild state 

 to the lower limit of Pinus insularis. It is cultivated (at elevations 

 of 200 feet to 500 feet) for the sake of its cordage fibre, one 

 of the most valuable known for the manufacture of white ropes. The 

 plant has been introduced to other tropical countries, but, so far, it has 

 not succeeded anywhere so well as in the Philippines. (Kew Bull., 1887, 

 April, pp. 1-3.) 



Var. M. amboinensis, Rumph. Stem not so tall. Spike not so 

 drooping. Fruit as long as a man's finger, black at maturity. Native 

 of Amboyna. 



A very complete set of specimens of fruit (Ceylon), seeds (Manila), 

 of prepared hemp, cords, ropes, mats, plaited work, hats, lace handker- 

 chiefs from M. textilis are shown in the Kew Museum. Dried 

 specimens of the inflorescence of this species are desired for the Kew 

 Herbarium ; while a portion of the spike preserved in spirit wouli be a 

 valuable addition to the Museum. 



*19. M. discolor, Horan. Stoloniferous. Stem slender, cylindrical, 

 6-10 feet high. Leaves narrow-oblong, smaller and firmer in texture 

 than in M. sapientum, rounded at the base, glaucous, tinged with violet or 

 red beneath when young ; petiole a foot or more long. Spike drooping, 

 finally as long as the leaves ; bracts reddish, the upper only persisting ; 

 male flowers deciduous. Fruit cylindrical, angled, rather curved, 

 umbonate at the apex, rather dry, reddish-violet, very palatable, with a 

 violnt pulp, and a rather musky scent. Distribution : — This species is 

 cultivated in Polynesia and especially in New Caledonia, where it bears 

 the name of Colaboute, and is said by Vieillard to be wild there. It 

 produces no fertile seeds. It is in cultivation in this country and there 

 is a drawing at Kew by Fitch of a plant that flowered in the Gardens 

 many years ago. The stem yields a textile fibre which is used for fish- 

 baskets, &c. 



*20. M. Basjoo, Sieb. et Zucc. ; Bot. Mag. t. 7182; M. japonica 

 Hort. Stoloniferous. Stem cylindrical, 6-9 feet high, 6-8 inches 

 diameter. Leaves oblong, thin, bright green, 6-9 feet long, 1^—2^ feet 

 broad, deltoid at the base ; petiole stout, about a foot long. Rachis 

 stout, arcuate, a foot long. Spike dense, 1-1^ feet long ; female 



