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53<br />
337. Musa basjoo, Sieb., Jap. JBas/io ; a perennial<br />
herbaceous plant of the order Musaceae cultivated in gardens.<br />
Late in spring it shoots forth its leaves to a height 10 fts. In?<br />
summer it bears yellow flowers protected with large bracts. They<br />
are succeeded with fruits, which, however, do not come tomaturity<br />
unless in hot climates. During the frosty season the<br />
leaves wither and only the sheath remains ;<br />
so it must be covered<br />
during the severe winter. From the sheath, fibre is obtained. In<br />
the Okinawa Islands, a different species of Musa grows plentifully,<br />
arid from its fibre, the natives weave a cloth called<br />
Basho-fu (Musa linen).<br />
338. Juncus balticus, Dent/i., Jap. Kohige ; a<br />
perennial herb of the order Juncaceae cultivated in paddy fields^<br />
It grows to a height of about 3 fts. In summer its stalk bears<br />
small flowers arranged in branches under about 3 inches from the<br />
top of the leaves. The stalks are cut and woven into mate called<br />
Bingo-omote. They are also used to make hand-baskets. The-<br />
Tuncus (298) is of the same use, but softer.<br />
i/<br />
339. Typha angustifolia, ., Jap. Himegama ; a *<br />
perennial aquatic plant of the order Araceae growing in swampsand<br />
ponds. In spring<br />
it shoots forth broad flat leaves to a height<br />
of 6-7 fts., and in summer the flower-stalks grow to the height of<br />
the leaves, bearing male and female flowers separately at the top.<br />
The latter is in the form of a spadix of a length of 8-10 inches<br />
and a diameter of an inch. When fully ripen, the flower flies off"<br />
by the wind like cotten. It is used for tinder, candle-wick,<br />
paper-making, etc. The leaves are used for mats, baskets, and<br />
ropes. There are two varieties, large and small, which are of thesame<br />
use. The young leaves can be eaten as a vegetable.<br />
340. Cyperus nutans, Vahl. y<br />
Jap. Shichido, Riukiu ; *<br />
a perennial aquatic plant of the order Cyperaceae cultivated in<br />
paddy fields. In spring, triangular stalks grow to a height of<br />
4-5 fts., bearing fine flowers arranged on little petioles. In<br />
autumn they are cut, dried and woven into green mats called<br />
Riukiu-oDiote or Ao-wushiro.