Whangee

They are a hardy evergreen plant from Japan, China, and the Himalayas whose woody stems are sometimes used to make canes and umbrella handles.

The firm of Dunhill created custom smoking pipes and cigarette holders out of whangee, lacquering the surface of the plant stems and adding a black plastic or Bakelite mouthpiece.

Terry-Thomas, the well-known British comedic actor, habitually used an 8-inch (20 cm)-long custom black lacquered whangee cigarette holder.

His collection included a valuable holder with a spiral of diamonds set in gold over the black lacquered whangee.

Bertie Wooster in The Inimitable Jeeves (chapter 1) says, "Then bring me my whangee, my yellowest shoes, and the old green Homburg.