Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-09
Lighf-Givfmx Plants.


bOtanist, who. in his travels in Amboine OBJ
served light streaming from species which he
named Fungus igneus, or fre-mushroom. 1t
presented remarkable spectacle at night,
often growing about huts. SO that they seemed
afire. Gardner afterward redlscovered It in
Brazil He was passing along one night when
he observed a strange light high up among the
branches of Pindoba palm. Not being able to
climb the tree. he obtained a native, who as
cended. and broke Off dead leaf upon which
was growing blazing agaric that seemed
almost red-hot. It was afterward named aga
ricus Gardneri. He found later in the Swan
river colony much larger variety, that gave
most singular light, as If great heaps of Goals
had been piled upon the trees. In Italy. especi-
ally about the olive trees, an interesting red
mushroom is found (agaricus olearius) NJ. De-
lille, the Frinch naturalist. first noticed it. The
light it emts is beautiful aurelian blue that
spreads silently and mysteriously, Illuminating
all about with Its rays. According to the above
naturalist and NJ. Fabre, when this agaric is still
young 1t Is phOsphOrescent for many successive
nights. even when it Is detached from the olive
trees, about the roots of which it is found grow
ing. The light is 80 intense that 1t begins to
shine often before darkness has fully set In. and
the strange sight Is often seen of olive trees
with their roots encrcled by knobs of fire that
sunrise the display ceases: yet NJ. Fabre says he
has observed the light at midday, perhaps as
we can see the light of the glOw-wOrm at
the same time by shading it in the hand.
Near the Swan river, southern Africa,
the phOsphorescence of a certain agaric attains
wonderful degree of splendOr, the stumps of
trees and fallen limbs appearing as if afame
with the mysterious light. The same has been
observed in certain portions of the Himalayas.
IN the Jungle OF Borneo the phosphorescentl light
OF plants is often so brilliant that the roads and
paths are lighted perfectly by them, so that
print can be read at some distance. The Poly
pOrus annOsus, common in the mines of Wales,
Is 80 phOsphOrescent that print has been read
by it at a distance of sixty feet. Another OF
the same genus has been seen luminous in
England. A curious example Of intense
light was observed by Rev. NJ. j. Berke-
ley, IN which log of timber twenty-four feet
long had under its bark a white mycelium,
that shone through five folds of paper, ana pre-
sented marvellous appearance the wood ap-
pearing at white heat. D. C. Beard observed
curious incident on Long Island in connection
with vegetable light. He was camping out, and
some old logs had been broken in the afternoon
and left strewn about. On waking during the
night he found that they were evidently sur
rounded by fire. All about were patches of
cleaning light blazing like Goals at white
heat. presenting decidedly weird appearance,
at least In such close proximity; but upon in
vestigatiOn 1t was found to be nothing more nor
less than phosphorescent wood, or "fox-fre,''
from the old logs.
These curious lights are often seen in the
woods. especially in the Adirondack region,
where the underbrush Is thick with trees that
have been reduced to powder except the bark
A number of interesting experiments have been
made to explain the phOsphorescence in decayed
wood; 1t has been placed in different gases and
subjected to fire and water with various re-
suits. BOckman has shown that it Is luminous
IN nitrogen and In vacuum ash pure oxygen If
the temperature ishigh thelight is extingulshed
IN oxygen gas, while water has no effect upon its
luminous qualities. Moisture greatly intensfes
the light and 1t is probable that 1t is essential
for it's manifestation. The phosphorescence of
phanegoramlc plants was first noticed by the
daughter of the great naturalist L!nnaus. She
was fond Of setting fire to the inflamed atmos-
phere which envelops the essential oil glands of
lTaxineLa, an experiment that the learned Arago
also delighted in, and one evening, while sit
Cing In her garden, she observed faint sparks
daftlng from aud playing about the flowers of
group OF nasturtiums. At times the light
WOuld resemble mimic flash Of lightning and
again the flowers would appear surrounded by
a soft halo of light These observations were
made in the twilight. during the months of June
and August, in the year 1862 The lady attained
the ripe old age of 96, often telling OF this and
the result OF later discoveries. 1t is curious to
note that yellow and orange colOrs are more
brilliantly phosphorescent than any other, and
this is a popularity of both organic and inor-
ganic objects. Diamonds of topaz or yellow
tlnts are much more phosphorescent than
any Others; the spot on frehies is inva-
riably yellow, while the most brilliant OF
the above tints. The humble yet esthetic sun
flower Is often seen bathed with faint aurora
or emitting sparks from it's corolla and the same
Is true OF the marIgolds (calendula). Watch
them on some warm sultry evening when the |
darkness has well set in, and but little imagina-
in fh0 lpH<
that come and 90 as If on the wind that rustles
through the trees, the culprt fays of childhood's
days. The Rose d'Inde or the Tagetes Of the
botanlst is also brilliant light giver as we'll as
rieties of nasturtiums. Prof. Haggern, the
Swedish naturalist, observing flashes about
marlgolds, at first thought It an optical illu-
sion, but the phenomenon being repeated on
many evenings, he finally took man with him
who was to make a sign If he saw anything
unusual, which he did as the light Appeared
about the flowers, both parties observing it
The lights played about in
flames or flashes, and were Of an orange tint.
Now 1t was Intermittent at intervals of minute,
then came succession Of quick flashes. These
lights were observed about sunset in July and
August, when the atmosphere was dry, and never
after rain Prof. Haggern also observed the
phenomenon upon the mOnkshood, the orange
lily, and the French and African marigolds At
first 1t was referred to the presence of minute
show them, and the naturalist finally concluded
that the cause was electric, an opinion that Is
still held by all who have observed the curious
occurrence.
The phosphOresence Of the oriental POPPY has
often been observed, and was first brought to
the notice Of scientists by NJ. T. Fries. the dis
tinguished botanist of Sweden. He was walk
Ing alone in the botanical gardens of Upsal
when he noticed curious flames playing about
the flowers of Papaver orientale So intense
were the lights that the learned gentleman
thought he must be the victim of an optical H.
fusion and passed by the flowers repeatedly.
standing over them an hour before he could
convince himself that he was actually observing
the phosphOrescence Of flowers. The following
nights he visited the spot again. and witnessed
the same phenomena, and then to convince
himself he took servant with him, to whom .
ne had not mentioned the occurrence.
The professor str0lled by the peoples as
II accidentally, when the man start
ed back and caught him by the arm
with cry of alarm, entreating his master to
come away. This established the fact in the
mind of NJ. Fries, and the news was soon given
to the public, and the garden was thronged by
sight-seers, who every evening gathered around
the peoples and lilies Oilium bulbiferum.) In
the flowers observed by the daughter of Lin
naus. the phosphoric light PRODUCER was not
continuous; 1t manifested itself in chickering's or
nvHn rlyo hit oh lx1k O.