Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-08-30
METALWoRous SHRUBS.
4 Plant That Thrives on Copper Coins
and Old Tin Pans.

4 Plant That Thrivcs on Copper Coins
and Old Tin Pans.
Prof. Schelwisch, the well-known
naturalist OF Bavaria, while travelling
with the Stanley expedition in the
heart Of Africa, noticed o plant with .
peculiar steel-colored foliage, and on
examinationit 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 1t
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 IN examination OF its roots, the
natives crowded around him in great
numbers, gesticulating in o menacing
manner. The Professor desisted from
his work and the interpreter was sent
for. He explained that this was holy
tree, and worshiped by the natives in
their fetch religion as god plant, ana
that to dig one up would bring ruin and
desolation upon the whole village and
surrounding country.
Prof. Schelwisch offered to buy the
plant, and, taking out handful of cop
per coins, gave them to the savages,
who gladly accepted the money and
distributed 1t 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 remove 1t. Az
soon as this message was made known
to the savages every one who had re-
ceived q coin came and dropped it In
the hole at tho base Of the shrub. Prof.
Schelwisch allowed the coins to remain
in the hole and walked away toward the
mountain to hunt another specimen.
Next day, as the party were preparing
to continue the march, the Professor
was curious to know II the coins had re-
manned undisturbed during the night
by the superstitious natives, and on APP
preaching the metal plant was aston
ished to find it had changed its color
completely. Instead Of being beauti-
full steel color, the stem, leaves and
what was exposed of the roots presented
the appearance Of newly-coined copper
coins, and glittered in the morning sun
light like polished gold. Upon exam
ination it was ascertained that during
the night the strange plant had alb
sorbed 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 transfer
nation. 1t was found that the thin ivy
shaped leaves were now easily bent
around the fingers, would retain any
shape given, and could be readily cut
with any ordinary pair Of scissors.
Prof. Schelwisch succeeded in surrepti-
tiously 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 tho
Uniamesi country, when at The base Of
the Nkomabakosi Mountains perfect
forest of this curious plant was found.
This being an uninhabited region, no
difficulty was encountered in securing
specimens to take back to England.
A great fire was built about the tree,
but 1t would not burn the least little
bit.-Philadelphia Times.