These are the fibrous plants of Brazil which are of the most importance. It is evident that of all that have been mentioned there are only four which can be made use of advantageously for cordage. The caroa (bromelia variegata); the crauatà de rede, (bromelia sagenaria); the caroata-açu (agave vivipara); and the fibre of the rind of the coco da praia (cocos nucifera); their cheapness, the ease with which they may be prepared, their abundance, and the possibility of obtaining them still cheaper, render these the fibres of chief importance. The fibre of the leaf of the tucum, which has been so much extolled, and that of the macaiba, and of the dendezeiro (another palm) cannot become of general service to society, and much less can they be rendered applicable to the use of shipping, from the difficulty with which they are to be obtained, and from many other circumstances.
Section 2d.
Carrapixo, Urena Sinuata:—Lin. Syst. Veget. edit. 14.
Class, Monadelphia:—Order, Polyandria.
The bark of this plant is with ease separated by means of maceration for a fortnight; and from it cords are made for many purposes, and although they are not very strong, they are much esteemed for slinging hammocks; when the operation of macerating is made in clean water, the fibre becomes pretty well whitened. The plant is not cultivated; and in the neighbourhood of Paratibi it grows spontaneously, in such quantities that the inhabitants of that village gather it for sale. I have heard that it grows in abundance at Rio de Janeiro, and is known there by the name of guaxuma. The name of carrapixo is likewise given in Pernambuco to some other plants, of which the seeds stick to whatever chances to touch them, by means of small ears which are thorny; for this reason the plant of which we are treating is sometimes called carrapixinho, for the purpose of distinguishing it.
Guaxuma do Mangue, Hibiscus Pernambucensis:—Arrud. Cent. Plant. Pern.
Class, Monadelphia:—Order, Polyandria.
Gen. Char. Calyx double, the outside divided into many segments, the inside into five segments, campanulate. Capsule quinque-locular; many seeds.
Spec. Char. Leaves cordate, entire; stem fruit-bearing, with the exterior calyx monophyllous, having eight notches.
Nat. Char. Stem of six feet and more; bark black, few branches.