. Plants and their uses; an introduction to botany . or street sweepers, is affordedby the similarly fibrous stemvS of the rattan (Fig. 223). Whensplit or peeled they serve especially well also, under thename reed, for basketrj^, wickerwork, cane seats, etc. The stems of bamboo (Fig. 224) are used widely for similarpurposes, and for an almost endless number of other eastern countries the bamboos form the main dependenceof the people in supplying a large share of their needs. In tropical regions generally the coconut palm (Figs. 34-36)is also depended upon for an immense variety of uses
. Plants and their uses; an introduction to botany . or street sweepers, is affordedby the similarly fibrous stemvS of the rattan (Fig. 223). Whensplit or peeled they serve especially well also, under thename reed, for basketrj^, wickerwork, cane seats, etc. The stems of bamboo (Fig. 224) are used widely for similarpurposes, and for an almost endless number of other eastern countries the bamboos form the main dependenceof the people in supplying a large share of their needs. In tropical regions generally the coconut palm (Figs. 34-36)is also depended upon for an immense variety of uses—fartoo many to be here enumerated. Fibrous material obtainedfrom the leaves has important domestic uses, but the fiberof greatest value is that known as coir, which is obtained fromthe nut husks by rotting away the softer material. Coirmakes cordage of extraordinary lightness and elasticity es-pecially valuable for cal^les and running rigging. Its mostfamiliar use is for door-mats and other matting subject tovery hard wear. 230 INDUSTRIAL PLANTS. Fio. 222.—Broom-corn {Andropooon Sorghutn, Grass Family, Gramlneae).A, flowering top of wild form, known as Johnson grass (^4. halepensis)from which broom-corn and the various other cultivated sorghums arebelieved to have been derived. B. flowering toj) of a cultivated form(var. rulonris) which differs from the form for brooms ()main\y in having a more compact flower-cluster. Bcf, B9,staminatc and pistillate .spikelets, enlarged. Z), bract. K, , lodicules. (Rcichenbach.)—Annual 2-3 m. tall; stem solid; flowersconcealed by bracts; fruit a grain. Native home, , MediterraneanRegion (?). MIXED FIBERS 237
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectbotany, bookyear1913
