The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-09-25
The Lasetto or Lace-Bark Tree.

The order IHymeIoce9e, Or " Daph-
nads," comprises a very interesting
group of plants, whether we regard
them as objects Of floral beauty, or
look at them from an industrial point
of view. The name of the order is
derived fIom thynaeIoea, 2 plant men
toned by the ancients. The plants
included in this group are shrubs or
low trees, with entire leaves, perfect
flowers, tubular colored calyx, and
small round hairy fruit. inclosed in
the persistent base Of the perianth.
They are remarkable for their acrid
and caustic bark, the inner portion
of which is composed Of interiaced
fibers, extremely tough, but easily
seperable, and hence often used for
making cordage. The plants Of this
order occur in great ABUNDANCE in the
cooler parts of India, South America,
South Africa, and Australia; a few
also occur in Europe. Among the
Daphnads may be mentioned the
Gnic7ia dopl,eoitzes, the bark of which
is manufactured in Madagascar into
ropes; the Daplane MoztbG, the inner
bark of which is made into a soft pa
per in Nepaul; and D0rllsae caienabi-
nd, used for the same purpose in Chi
ma. The only representative Of the
order found IN North America, Is our
common leatherwood or wicopy Dir
ca palustris), the bark of which, on
account Of its great toughness, is used
for making ropes, baskets, etc. Among
Quiet cuIIVdn producers Of Jamaica
usually brought home by travellers,
specimens of the vegetable lace " OF
that island are always sure to be
found. The plant which produces
this, is the Lagetta Hnteario formerly
called Dal'1tme lagetto), or lace-bark
tree, otherwise known by the native
name of lagetto. 1t is small tree,
20 to 30 feet high, growing in the
most inaccessible rocky places Of the
island. It's inner bark consists of nu-
merous conccntric layers of fiber, that
interlace in every direction, forming
fine meshes, and by lateral stretching
is made to present striking resem-
blance to the most delicate manufac-
tured lace, whence the common name
of the tree.
1t is said that Charles II. received
as present from the Governor Of
Jamaica a cravat, frill, and pair OF
ruffies, made of this material; and TO
this day, it is used for bonnets, collars,
and other articles of apparel. Tray
elers state that the creole women take
delight in decorating themselves with
this filmy material tor evening wear,
studding it with the brilliant fire
beetles, or cucolos, for which the
West Indies are noted. The effect
is said to be very beautiful.
During the days Of slavery i'll ia
lnaica, the uses to which this natural
lace was applied, were not so unob-
iectionable as those just mentioned,
since it then likewise furnished the
thongs and whips for the taskmasters
use.
\ very perfect representation Of a
piece Of this exquisite vegetable prod
uct will be seen in our illustration
which was printed directly on the
block from a portion Of very fine
specimen kindly sent to us by Rob
ert Nunes Esq, the L. S. Consul at
Falmouth, Jamaica. .Scientjfc liner
lean.
The Lace bark tree Us above de-
scribed is a species of wild fig, grow
ing in the mountains of Jamaica, and
in the Eastern part of the Island is
called the Baun-aose fig tree. The
trunk or limb is cut into blocks and
immersed in water for a few days,
when the bark is stripped off, beaten
carefully with a mallet, and washed
until all the vegetable matter is re-
moved; it is then dried in the sun,
and the fibres can be separated into
'-hf aa'N