Botanical Name - Aeschynomene aspera

----- AE. aspera, Linn.; F.B.I. II-152, Vern. Sola, Ind. Jilugu. Niru-jilugu, Tel.

The "Sola Plant." Stem erect, full of white pith-like light wood, 5-6 ft. high, 1-1 1/2 in. diam. Leaves imparipinnate; leaflets very small numerous. Flowers yellow, about 2/3 in. long, in 2-4 flowered corymbose racemes. Calyx 3/8 in. with a pair of round bracteoles. Corolla twice the calyx. Pod 2-2 1/2 by 1/3 in., long-stalked, with 3-6 separating joints.

----- Found in most tanks and swampy ground. This is the pith or sola used for making hats. It is seldom collected for this purpose, and is only used by fishermen for floats.