The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1890-09-18
METALivoRous sHRuBBERy.
a Plant that Would Have Become Brass
II 1t Had Digested the Story Teller.

x
Prof. Schelwisch, the well-known
naturalist of Bavaria. while travelling
with the Stanley expedition in the heart
Of Africa. noticed plant with pc
culiar steel-colored foliage, and on ex-
animation it 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 a force about equal to the
same amount of iron. and to secure
leaf it was found necessary to separate
it from the bush with q file.
While Prof Schelwisch was digging
nj 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 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 ma
tiyes in their fetch religion as god
plant, and that to dig one up would
bring ruin and desolation upon the
whole village and surroun ding coun-
try.
Prof. Schelwisch offered to buy the
plant, and, taking out handful of
copper coins, gave them to the saw
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 4 coin came and
| dropped it in the hole at 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. .E.e
| Next day, as 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 the
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 a similar
transformation. 1t was found that the
thin ivy-shaped leaves were now easily
bent around the fingers, would retain
any shape given them, and could be
readily cut with an ordinary pair Of
i scissors.
Prof. Schelwisch succeeded in sur
reptitiously securing several branches
OF this wonderful metal eating plant.
and was also successful in obtaining
a 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 Nkoma bakosi Noun
tains a perfect forest of this curious
plant was found. This being an unin-
habited region, no difficulty was en-
eountered in securing specimens to
take back to England.
A great fire was built about the tree.
but it would not burn the least little
bit.-Philadelphia Times.