A Description of the Fibrous Plants of Dominica. 
By A. D. Lockhart. 
F the fibrous trees and other plants of Dominica 
that I am practically acquainted with, there are 
sixteen species. The names of the sixteen are 
as follow : Mahout Cochou, Mahout Doux, Mahout Floue, 
or Corkwood, Mahout Pement, Bois Canou, Savanette, 
Petit Cousain, Cousain Grande Feuille, Bois Gombo, 
Cocoa, Cocoa-Nut, Cabbage Palm, Manilla, Lapiette, or 
Dagger Plant, fan Aloe,) Pine Lapiette, Pine-Apple 
plant. Most of these are indigenous to Dominica. 
The cocoa, cocoanut, pine-apple, and manilla are not 
indigenous, but grow so readily that they may almost 
be accounted as growing wild. The manilla is the latest 
introduction into Dominica. I should think it is now 
about fifteen years since it was received from Martinique. 
Of these sixteen species ten may be considered as 
valuable fibre-giving plants. The remaining six are 
either more valuable for their fruit, or their fibres 
are not of much value owing to the fact of want of 
durability. Of the ten best I now purpose to describe seven ; 
of the remaining three, the cocoanut is not at present 
manufactured in this Island into fibre, except in small 
quantity, which is hand prepared for local purposes ; 
viz. mattress-making, although the cocoanut is to be had 
in great quantities in Dominica. Petet Cousain, and 
Cousain grande feuille are annual plants, which are not at 
this season mature enough to yield fibre. They are fit about 
December and continue in that condition till about March, 
