600 Philippme Journal of Science 1919 
Table XVII. — Physical tests of rope made from the bast of StercuUa 
stipularis — Continued. 
Mean ultimate tensile strength per unit area (dry) : 
Kilograms per square centimeter 268 
Pounds per square inch 3,800 
Mean ultimate tensile strength per unit area (wet) : 
Kilograms per square centimeter 366 
Pounds per square inch 5,200 
Mean elongation at instant of rupture: 
Dry (per cent) 7 
Wet (per cent) 10 
Mean weight per unit length : 
Grams per meter 26.6 
Pounds per foot 0.0179 
Average breaking length: 
Meters 2,980 
Feet 9,780 
Moisture (per cent) 8.26 
MALVACEAE 
BOMBYCIDENDRON VIDALIANUM Merr. and Rolfe. Lanutan. 
Local names: Lanotan (Bulacan) ; lanutan (northern Luzon to Bulacan 
and Bataan) ; losoban (Abra) ; lusilban, lusoban (Ilocano, Itneg) ; pangar- 
disen (Cagayan, Ilocos Sur) ; takulau-blanco (Ilocos Norte). 
A medium-sized tree with oblong-lanceolate, acuminate leaves 
and large white flowers; capsules ovoid; widely distributed in 
Luzon at low altitudes. 
The strands of the rope made of Bombycidendron vidalianum 
bast average sixteen strips thick, the latter varying in width 
from 2 to 8 millimeters, and in thickness from 0.13 to 0.31 milli- 
meter. The dry rope possesses a high tensile strength and 
breaking length. Immersion in fresh water reduces the mean 
tensile strength by about 26 per cent. The Ilocanos consider this 
bast to be pliable, resistant, and durable, and fitted for service 
throughout the year. The tensile-strength tests showed an 
erratic tendency, the wet specimens showing poorer agreement 
than the dry ones. In the dry series of five tests the maximum 
variation from the mean tensile strength was 18 per cent, and 
’ that from the average value in the five wet specimens was 30 
per cent. Four of the five dry, and three of the five wet, spec- 
imens ruptured outside of eye-splices, the other test pieces break- 
ing in splices. In both series of tests the minimum values were 
given by specimens breaking in the unspliced portion of the rope. 
A summary of the results of tests of Bombycide^idron vida- 
lianum bast rope made at the Bureau of Science are given in 
Table XVIII. 
