2go 



neg/ecta, Bl., occurs in the hills in Johor at an altitude of 1,500 feet 

 MONOCOTYLEDONES. 

 Dracaena grannlata, Hook, fil.? 

 A tree about 30 feet tall 6 inches through with narrow grassy 

 leaves, bark thin light coloured brownish white longitudinally 

 wrinkled. Wood white and soft, rings irregular fine, bundles very 

 close with very little intermediate tissue. I have some doubt as to 

 the species of this. If not D. granulata it is an undescribed species. 



D. aurantiaca y Wall. 



A smaller shrub with marbled leaves, has wood of similar struc- 

 ture but the fibres are rather larger. 



Pai.m.-e. 



Of the erect palms native of the Peninsula we have a number of 

 slender species belonging to the genera Pinanga^ Iguanura, w hich 

 are only useful for walking sticks. The best of all these is the 

 Kerintin Drymophloeus ^ingaporianus^ an elegant tufted palm with 

 fine feathery fronds, occurring from Singapore to the Dindings. 

 The stems of this are about 6 feet long and an inch or more 

 through, and when cleaned are deep black with regular joints, 

 forming beautiful walking sticks. The "Penang Lawyers", formerly 

 popular walking sticks were made from the stems of Licualas, 

 " Palas" specially L. paludosa and L. acutifida. 



The leaves of some Palms are used for roofing in place of Ataps. 

 The best of these are Sago, Sagns laevis and Rumphii, " Rumbiva", 

 the Licualas (Palas,) Nipa and the rare palm Teysmannia altifrons 

 " Daun Payoh ", " Daun Sang", and those of Zalacca Blumeana and 

 a few others are also used. 



The fibre from the sheaths of Arenga saccharifera u Kabong ", 

 Tali Ijok, giving the black rope, and vegetable horsehair, is well 

 enough known. The soft tomentum on the stems of Caryota 

 mitis Lour " Tukus " is used by the Sakais as wadding in their 

 blowpipes, and as tinder. A kind of Sago is made from the pithy 

 tern of the same plant. 



The inner part of the midrib of the leaf of the Sago palms, can 

 be used as cork or pith, for hats, insect boxes and such purposes. 

 The leaf must be full grown and carefully dried, when the outside 

 is cut off with a sharp knife, and the pith cut into slices. 



The rattans belong to the genera Calamus, Dacmonorops, Kor- 

 thalsia, Ceratolobus, Myrialepis, and Plectocomia. They will be 

 treated of in another number. Chicks and screens are made from 

 the leaf rachis of the Bertam, Eugeissona tristis Griff. 



Of woods for construction purposes, the most important is the 

 Nibong, Oncosperma jilamentosa, Bl. a tall tufted palm, stems 

 about 40 feet, covered with sharp black spines, leaves long, feathery, 

 arched with the leaflets deflexed. This palm is very abundant in 

 damp spots near rivers, etc. The outer wood is black or dark 

 brown and very hard. It is used for buildings, for flooring, parti- 

 tions, etc. It is durable, and lasts a long time even in water. 



