The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-26
( FLORA OF MEXICO.
\ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SOME
STRANGE VEGETABLE GhOWThS.

The "Band Flower" Tree-Tbe Fever
Flower" Of Vera Cruz-A Quaint Con-
eeyt Of Floral Nature-Thc Deadly "Palo
de Ieche.''
In the year 1857 there was in Mexico
Suanish botanical commission. headed by
Martin Sessc; and the gentlemen OF this corps
received from the Indians Of Toluca an nm
known plant which the Indians called Mac
palxochilcuahultl % this formidable morsel
being a compound word, from elements
meaning "h1nd." flower" and tree" The
blossoms nrc sub campanulate, nesny and
five pctalcd. or, rather, Gve-scpaled, since the
corolla is wanting. The pistil, which is
p,rscp. represents the thumb Of the hand, and
fertilization is accomplished by tho fingers
curling over it 50 as 10 shed upon 1t the pollen
from their nnthcrs. The stamens or fingers,
which constitute the popularity of the flower,
are four, monodelphous at the base, but sep
arate beyond that point. They are OF uh-
equal length, with oblong anthers. The oVary
a. peutagonnl. the fruit capsular, with ten |"
twelve seeds in each lobe The botanical az
tributes Of this plant place IT in the family
Bombacep Specifically the tree Is cheiros-
temun platanoidcs
The group Of starnens is certainly very
suggestive Of bloody, claw like or skeleton
izei human hand, and the first sight OF one
of these flowers causes q weird impression. IL
was. no doubt, partly this trait and partly
the numerical rarity Of the plant that gave
IL so much importance among tho Indians.
There was but one tree at Toiuca, and none
other known throughout the country, though
tradition has it that these plants were cult
waited to some extent 10y the kings Of Tex
coco Very few Of the seeds mature, and
still fewer terminate.
THE FEVER FLOWER
Tn the sub-topical regions Of the state Of
Vera Cruz there is n plant known as 'the
fever flower" whose blossom, winch Is
Heshy spathe, somewhat similar in shape ana
size to that of the Gala lilly, is lined within
with q hue like the cheeks Of a fever flushed
patient, while at noon IL is, even in the dense
shade, burning hot 10 the touch, and toward
evening it becomes thickly beaded with drops
like those Of a dense perspiration. Ii Is sad
also that tue 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 was
never able to procure it under such condi-
tiu,s as to study all It's parts, but l should
say it is ON arum.
The duck plant" 50 called, is another
uueint conceit of floral nature. 1t IS
climber, or lwner, with large cordate leaves,
not unlike those Of the morning glory" but
as,lrge rs ones two hands. The flower is
perhaps foot long, and It's contours are very
tugg estivc o. n duck sitting "topslde down"
Within it presents a surface OF most exqui-
site velvcty softneSs, Of mottled pale green
md rich. dark maroon. Alas! when passee
this flower is quite as unfragrant as its ami
NAL prototype when 1t becomes "high"-in
fact il smells rank unto heaven with most
disgusting stencil.
There is a curious story current in North
ern Mexico Of a tree which would seem to be
closely akin TO the tabled upas trees. II If
described as Of the size Of 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 its distilled venom Tho larger ami
mails also fall prey to its noxious properties,
though cattle and such creatures for the most
part avoid it, as if 10y either instinct on OBJ
servation. a romantic tale is also told OF a
Young Mexican. | believe the story runs he
was vaquero on the hacienda, who per-
suaded his successful rival in the affections
OF a fair muchacha 20 lie down TO rest be
meath this vampire tree. The hated rival,
being n stranger 70 that section and ignorant
OF the toxic properties Of his leafy canopy,
conplied-and never awakened from hls
siesta.
TIE "PALo IL LECHE."
Less mythical and perhaps more striking
are the accounts given Of the palo dc leche
of Terra Caliento-the hot coast iowlands-
The term pa,o dc lechc means simply milky
plant. ana Is applied from tho milky charac-
ter of tho sap exuded from all the plants Of
this genus. All these trees belong 10 tho
Euphorbiace1, one Of which is the Euphor-
bia ponscttia or Pulcherrima, whose scarlet
whorls Of bracts are SO effective in gardens
or conservatories. This splendid Euphorbia
is known in Mexico rs 1.-THE flower OF tho ma
tivity." 1t Is used as a remedy in pulmon-
ary affections. have never seen anything
like the luxuriapce Of its growth around
Cuernayaca, the city where Macmillan had
his summer residence. A great many Of the
euphorbacecus plants, if not all, are called
palo de leche, and their uses are diverse. The
Indians Of the coast use il for fishing, simply
throwing the leaves into the water, when the
fish, stupefed, rise 10 the surface
The principal use among these people,
however, is a far less innocent .One-destrOy-
ing life instead of contributing to its sup
port. Tho thick, acrid, milky juice or sap
is extremely poisonous. If thrown upon u
fire IL gives out fumes which produce an
agonizng headache and nausea. Taken in
ternally, il is a deadly poison, which causes,
according TO the way it is prepared and od-
ministered death or insanity. IL IS popu-
larry supposed that the madness Of the Ill
fated Empress Carlotta was caused by palo
de leche. Mexicans often deny this state
ment. but they admit and fear its deadly
power in other respects.
1t is strongly asSeyerated that the Indians
can SO prepare the poison as 10 regulate the
period OF time in which it will prove fatal
Foreign chemists with whom / have talked
scoff at this idea. but it does not seem
SO utterly improbable, in view OF the exact
ness with which can be determined the op-
Grafton Of various germs and microbes. The
fact remains that palo DC lechc Is most
powerful and deadly substance, and many
ure tho tragedies enacted through its instru-
u. "a no