Raphia

Raphia, the name of a group of palms (see Vol. VII. p. 722), the leaves, bark, and pith of which are used for various purposes. The bast of one South American species, R. tadigera or Jupati-palm, is largely used by gardeners everywhere for tying up plants, in fastening grafts, &c. And the midribs of the leaves of another species, found in Madagascar, &c., are supposed to be what was taken for 'roc's quills,' the feathers of the fabled Roc (q.v.).