Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1890-10-03
MErALlvoRous sHRusssRY.
"A Plant that Would Have become Brass
II IL Had Digested the Story Teller.


II IL Had Digested the Story Teller.
Prof Schelwisch. the well-known
naturalist of Bavaria. while travelling
with the Stanley expedition in the heart
of Africa. noticed plant with a pc
culiar steel-colorcd foliage. aud on ex-
animation IL was found that the shrub,
although growing like other plants
from the soil, was practically composed
of iron. The leaves, although very
thin, were bent with great difficulty,
and the twigs and branches resisted
pressure with force about equal to the
same amount of iron, and TO secure
leaf it was found necessary TO separate
1t from the bush with file.
While Prof. Schelwisch was digging
at the base of this plant for the purpose
of making an examination of its roots,
the natives crowded around him in
great numbers, gesticulating in a men
acing manner. The professor desisted
from his work and the interpreter was
sent for. He explained that this was
holy tree, and wOrshipped by the pa-
tives in their fetch religion as a god
plant, and that to dig one up would
bring ruin and desolation upon the
whole village and surroun ding coun-
try.
Prof. Schclwisch offered to buy the
plant, and, taking out handful OF
copper coins, gave them to the say
ages, who gladly accepted the money
and distributed it among themselves.
The professor then returned to the
work of digging up the unique plant,
but had not made any great progress
when the natives again set upon him.
Through the interpreter the professor
informed them that he had legally
bought the plant and intended to re-
move it. As soon as this message was
made known to the savages every one
who had received coin came and
dropped it in the hole Mt the base of the
shrub. Prof. Schelwisch allowed the
coins to remain in the hole and walked
away toward the mountain to hunt an
other specimen.
Next day. us the party were prepar-
ing to continue the march, the profess
sor was curious to know if the coins
had remained undisturbed during the
night by the superstitious natives, and
on approaching the metal plant was
astonished To find it had changed its
color completely. Instead of being
beautiful steel color. the stem. leaves,
and what was exposed of the roots pre-
sented the appearance of newly coined
copper coins, and glittered in the morn
ing sunlight like polished gold Upon
examination. it was ascertained that
during the night the strange plant had
absorbed nearly all the copper coins.
with the result of completely changing
| its color.
What was left of the coins in tho
hole showed that they were more than
half eaten away or absorbed by the
roots OF the metal plant Not only
was the color changed, but the texture
of the plant had undergone similar
transformation. 1t was found that the
thin iyy-shaped leaves were now easily
bent around the fingers, would retain
any shape given them, and could be
readily cut with an ordinary pair OK
scissors.
Prof. Schclwisch succeeded in sur
reptiiiously securing several branches
of this wonderful metal eating plant,
and was also successful in obtaining
good photograph of it. No further
trace of the existence of the metal
plant was found until the expedition
reached the Uniamesi country. when
at the base of the Nkomabakosi Noun
tains perfect forest of this curious
plant was found. This being an unin-
ha bited region, no difficulty was en-
countered in securing specimens to
take back to England.
A great fire was built about the tree,
| k,.f - h.
bit.-Philddeiphia Times