25S 
In some palms the leaf-sheath is broken up into a fibrous web 
as in the Coconut and Kabong, (Arengi) which is valuable as fibre 
tor ropes, cordage, brushes and broo ns. The well known bath 
broom is made from the stiff fibres of (he South American Pissaba 
Palm, {Attalea funifera). A palm cultivated in the Botanic Gar- 
dens collection Raffia Ruffia furnishes a fibre which is woven into 
fabrics and plaited for delicate fancy work in the Mascarene 
Islands and used for bast in tying up vines. 
Stem or Trunk . — -Sago has already been mentioned as a palm 
product and the pith of the trunk of other palms also furnish sago 
but not 111 so large quantity or so good quality. 
As timbers for inlaying and other fancy work palm wood is 
imported into Europe and America, Porcupine, Partridge, Coque- 
rite, Palmyra, Carnauba are all well known palm timbers, and in all 
tropical countries palm wood has its uses. 
In the Malay Peninsula NIbong, ( Oncosperma ), is an article of 
trade and is used when split for laths, rafters, flooring and railing, 
when split in two and hollowed is largely used on plantations and 
mines. for guttering and for deviating and conducting water in lieu 
of piping. 
Singapore is the head quarters of the rattan trade, the canes are 
obtained from the genera, Calamus , Plectocomia , Korthalsia and 
Decmonorops , as described in a previous number of the Bulletin. 
Walking sticks are obtained from palm timber and in some 
instances represent the entire stem as with the Pinang Lawyer, 
{Licuala acutifida) and Kemntin ( Ptych oraph is Singaporensis). 
Some species of palms are armed with spines, some pliable, 
others formidable, and have several domestic uses, and are used 
by the wild tribes of the Peninsula for darts and arrow heads. 
Roots are occasionally used for domestic purposes as with the 
aerial roots of Imartea by Indians on the Amazon and in many 
countries have native repute medicinally — -as have also the fruits 
and juices of some palms, but most of them have been hardly 
scientifically examined. 
