Thernia extenea.—Exogen. Twining, shrubby. Found wild in Bengal and in the Himalayas (from Darjeeling to Nepal), and one of the commonest weeds in the Deccan. Its stem yields a fibre whiob bas been recommended as a substitute for flax ; it is said to be very fine and strong, and to have gained a medal at the Madras Exhibition, 1855.
Daphne papyracea [cannabina]—Nepal Paper-shrub.—Exogen ; shrub, 5-6 ft. A native of the Himalayas—Nepal, Khasia, and Silhet—growing on the most elevated and exposed parts of the mountains, even where they are covered with snow. It seems to thrive luxuriantly only in the vicinity of the oak. The inner bark, prepared like hemp, affords a very superior paper material. The paper made from it is particularly suitable for cartridges, being strong, tough, and not liable to creek or break, however much bent or folded ; it is proof against being moth-eaten, and is not affected by ohange in the weather ; if drenched, or left in water for a considerable time, it will not rot. It is in universal request locally for writing deeds and records on, being quite smooth, and almost indestructible. Engravers say that it affords finer impressions than any English paper, and nearly as good as the fine Chinese paper. The fibre is also made into very strong cordage, which, when worn out, is still convertible into excellent paper.
D. aureola is utilized in Spain, where it is very common.
Debregeaei.a sp. div.—Exogen. Several species of this plant furnish a fibre resembling that 3 P 2 afforded by the Bcehmeria, or China grass, and valuable for textile fabrics. They are chiefly : D. edulis, indigenous to Japan, and recommended for culture in Victoria ; D. hypoleuca, on the Hima layas, and in Abyssinia, up to elevations of 8000 ft. ; D. velutina and D. Wank/liana, ascend the Himalayas for several thousand feet. From the former, many of the Assam tribes obtain their cloth.
Diplarrhena Morrea.—Endogen. The native lily of Tasmania, occurring in abundance on the poorest lands. Fibre is extracted from the leaves.
Dolichos sp. D. trilobus is a very important fibre-plant in China, textiles made from it being termed "grass-cloth," like those from nettle-fibre. It has been utilized from the earliest times, and the manufacture is very extensive. From D. umbellatus, widely grown in Japan, no fibre is separated ; but D. tuberoses and D. bulbosus (in China) are turned to account.
Dombeya [Astrapcea] Native of Madagascar. The fibrous bark is locally made into rough but strong ropes.
Edgeworthia Native of the Himalayas. Affords a paper fibre resem bling that yielded by Daphne papyracea.
Elreis This W. African palm is very widely known for the valuable oil yielded by its fruits (see Oils). Its leaves contain a fibre which has not received the attention it seems to merit. The filaments are very fine, clean, and regular, like bundles of horse hair ; they are supple and very strong. Their dimensions are :—length : max., 0.137 in. ; min. 0.058 in.; mean, in.; diameter : max., 0.00052 in.; min., 0.0004 in. ; mean, 0.00044 in.
Erechthites plant springs up as a weed on recently cleared land in America. Its seed-pods yield a fibre much resembling cotton, but the seeds are smaller, and require no ginning to separate them from the boll. This fibre may be spun and woven, and wicks, ropes, yarn, and paper, are said to have been made from it. The application to paper-making was especially successful, the product comparing well with the silk-made papers of China and Japan.
Eriodendron 50-60 ft. One of the many "silk-cottons." Common in both E. and W. Africa, in India, and in the Sunda Islands. The silky seed-down is too short and brittle for weaving, but is used for stuffing.
E. Samauma, of Brazil, is similar. Also E. gossypium and E. carZceum (iu Cuba and Porto Rico).
Eriophorum This plant is very common in the N.-W. Provinces of India, growing abundantly in the ravines on the sides of the mountains, and is to be had for the cutting. Its seeds are clothed at the base with a cotton-like substance, which is used for stuffing and wick-making purposes, as well as for paper-makiug. The fibrous leaves are very extensively used locally for making rough, strong twine ; and very thick cables of it are em ployed for rope-bridges in the Himalayas. Though pretty strong when newly made, the ropes are not durable. Reports on its paper-making qualities state it as being of about the same strength as esparto, and capable of making equally good paper. The yield is 42 per cent., and the consumption of " bleach " is small.