Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-12-01
FLORA OF MEXICO.
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SOME
 STRANGE VEGETABLE eRoWTHs:

The "Hand FIower'' Tree-The "Fever
 Flower'' of yera Cruz-A Quaint Con-
 ceit of Floral Nature-The Deadly 'sPalo
 de Leche.''
 In the year 17S7 there was in Mexico Spanish botanical commission, headed by Martin Sesse; and the gentlemen of this corps received from the Indians of Toluca an un- known plant which the Indians called Mac palxochilcuahuitl O this formidable morsel being a compound word, from elements meaning ''hand, :" ssfower" and ''tree." The blossoms are sub-campanulate, f1eshy and five-petaled, or, rather, five-sepaled, since the corolla is wanting. The pistil, which is green, represents the thumb of the hand, and fertilization is accomplished by the fingers curling over it so as to shed upon it the pollen from their anthers. The stamens or fingers, which constitute the peculiarity of the flower, are four, monodelphous at the base, but sep arate beyond that point They are of un- equal length, with oblong anthers. The ovary is pentagonal, the fruit capsular, with ten to twelve seeds in each lobe. The botanical at tributes of this plant place it in the family Bombacea. Specifically the tree is cheiros- temun platanoides.
 The group of stamens is certainly very suggestive of bloody, claw like or skeleton ized human hand, and the first sight of one of these flowers causes weird impression. It was, no doubt, partly this trait and partly the numerical rarity of the plant that gave 1t so much importance among the Indians. There was but one tree at Toluca, and none other known throughout the country, though tradition has it that these plants were culti- vated to some extent by the kings of Tex eoco. Very few of the seeds mature, and Still fewer germinate.
 THE FEVER FLOWER"
 In the sub-tropical regions of the state of Vera Cruz there is a plant known as ''the fever flower," whose blossom, which is a aeshy spathe, somewhat similar in shape and size to that of the calla lilly, is lined within with hue like the cheeks of a fever flushed patient, while at noon it is, even in the dense shade, burning hot to the touch, and toward evening it becomes thickly beaded with drops like those of a dense precipitation. It is said also that the fumes from this flower, kept in a room, will produce fever in the human tenants, The Mexican local botanists had too vague and insufficient knowledge to classify this interesting specimen, and l was never able to procure it under such condi- tions as to study all its parts, but l should say it is an arum.
 The 'ducl1 plant" so called, is another quaint conceit of floral nature It is a climber, or twiner with large cordate leaves not unlike those of the morning glory" but as large as ones two hands. The flower is perhaps foot long, and its contours are very suggestive of duck sitting ''topside down" Within it presents a surface of most exqui- site velvety softness, of mottled pale green and rich dark maroon. Alas! when passee this flower is quite unfragrant as it's ani- nal prototype when it becomes "high"-in fact it smells rank unto heaven with a most l disgusting stench.
 | There is a curious story current in North ern Mexico of tree which would seem to be closely akin to the fabled upas trees. It is described as of the size of a large apple tree, with similar foliage, and it is said that the ground round about it is literally carpeted with butterflies and other insects that are killed by it's distilled venom. The larger ami mals also fall prey to its noxious properties, though cattle and such creatures for the most part avoid it, as if by either instinct or ob- servation. A romantic tale Is also told of a young Mexican. I believe the story runs he was vaquero on the hacienda, who per suaded his successful rival in the affections of fair muchacha to lie down to rest be- heath this vampire tree. The hated rival, being a stranger to that section and ignorant of the toxic properties of his leafy canopy, complied-and never awakened from his siesta.
 | THE "PALo DE LECHE."
 Less mythical and perhaps more striking