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XCVI. — Phorjiium tenax varieuatum. ‘" Variegated Plior- 
raium Fibre ” or “ New Zealand Flax Plaut.’^ Order Liliacem. 
New Zealand. 
See note in the description relating to Agave Americana 
variegata in reference to this variety. 
Fibre prepared by boiling for ten hours, and then scraping. 
Sample represents the product of 77 leaves.^ 
XCVII.— PiMELEA CLAVATA (Labilkrdiere) . “Club-flowered 
Tough Bark.” Order Thymelmacece. Western Australia. 
Yields a very fine bast. The fibre is obtained by stripping the 
bark from stems of trunk and branches, and scraping them when 
in the natural green state. The shrub grows to 10 or 12 feet. ^ 
XCVIII. — Plagianthus betulinus (A. Cunningham). “ Rib- 
bon Tree^^ or “New Zealand Lace-bark Tree.’’ Order 
Malvacece, New Zealand. 
A hardy evergreen birch-like tree, growing to an ultimate 
height of 80 feet. From the bark a beautiful lace-like bast is 
obtained by maceration, closely assimilating to that furnished by 
Hoheria populnea, the “ Otago Ribbonwood in fact, it is almost 
impossible to distinguish between the two when placed side by 
side. Like the latter, the Plagianthus is sometimes called 
“ Ribbon Tree from its similarity of bark. 
Sample No. 1, ten days^ maceration. 
No. 2, fifteen days’, taken from older wood than sample No. 1, 
bark stripped from branches and soaked in water. 
No. 3 was obtained from dead branches. 
XCIX. — ■ Plagianthus pulchellus (A. Gray) syn. Sida 
pulchella (Bonpland). “ Victorian Hemp Bush.” Order 
Malvaceae, Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. 
A pretty shrub or small slender tree. It is almost invariably 
found growing on the banks of rivers, creeks, &c. 
Prepared in a similar way to “ Jute-fibre,” and requires about 
the same time for steeping. Supposed to be equal to “Queensland 
Hemp” (Sida rhombifolia), and possesses the advantage of being 
much longer in staple. It can be obtained 8 feet in length if 
necessary. The plant, which is of quick growth, is usually 
propagated by seed. On marshy land, subject to partial inunda- 
tion, it should pay for cultivation. Fibre adapted for weaving 
* For full anti complete information reg’arding New Zealand Flax, see Sir James Hector’s 
instructive pamphlet, Phormium tenax as a Fibrous Plant, 2nd edition, 1889 : Published 
by the New Zealand Government. 
