SANSEVIERA ZEYLANICA. Thud..
Marool, Merle, . litso. Dant saga, . . . RIND.
Moorva, Munga, . „ Chaga laga,. . . SINGH.
Moorgbabi, . . . „ This plant grow s along all the coasts of South ern Asia ; has smooth, oblong-acute, flat, and linear-lanceolate, channelled glaucous leaves. It resembles the agave in some of its'eliaracters, but produces finer fibres, which are easily separated from the pulp, and have been long known as a useful matenal for cordage, being soft, silky, and pliant when well prepared ; about equal to the agave fibre in point of strength ; but as it is a finer material, it might be applied to a better de scription of manufactures. The plant is easily propagated, and yields a good crop under cultiva tion. It was tried against Russian hemp on board the Thalia East Indiaman, when commanded by Captain Biden, and wa.s highly approved of. It
has also been made into fine cloth, thread, twine, rope ; and cords are made from this fibre. The zonar, the sacred thread of the Hindu, was onlered by 31enu to be made of the fibre, and tho fine cord on which modern Hindus string their neck-ornaments is made of it. The fibres aro conunonly used to make bowstrings, and the plaited leavea form an excellent soft mat. The root is in a slight degree warm to the taste, is not of an unpleasant odour, and is prescribed by the native practitioners, in the fortn of electuary, in consutnptive eases, and coughs of long standing. The juice of the tender shoots of the plant is given to young children for the ptu-poso of clearing their throats of viscid plilegui.—Rosb.; Voigt ; Eng. Cyc.; 31. E. J. R.; 'tins. p. 88 ; lioyle.