Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-16
A STRANGE PLANT.
Discovered by a Eember of the Stanley Expedl-
tinn-It Fats Metal.
Philadelphia Times.

Thilauelpnla ItmeSs
Professor Schelwisrh. the we'll known
naturalist of Bavaria, while travelling
with the Stanley expedition in the heart
of Africa for the purpose of studying the
flora and fauna OF the dark continent,
was the first white man to discover the
strange plant.
One day while resting at small VIII
iage, near the foot of Mount Miloss, in
the Umbopo region, Professor schel-
wisch noticed plaut with peculiar
steel coloTed foliage, and on examina-
ton 1t was found that the shrub,
although growing like other plants from
the soil, was practically composed of
iron. The leaves, though 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 to be necessary to separate in
from the bush with a file.
w bile Professor Schelwiscn was dig
ging at the base Of this plant for the pur-
pose OF making an examination of its
roots, the natives crowded around him
in great numbers, gesticulatiDg in
menacing manner. The professor de-
sisted from his work and the interpreter
was sent for. He explained that this
was holy tree and worshlpped by the
natives in their felich religion as q God
plant, and that to dig one up would
bring ruin and desolatIon upon the whole
village aud surrounding country.
Professor SchelwiSch offered to buy the
plant, and, taking ont handful of cop
per coins, gave them TO the savages,
VITO gladly accepted the money and dis
triUuted it among themselves. The pro-
lessor then returned TO the work Of dig
cling up the unique plant, but had not
made any great progress when the ma
tives again set upon him. Through the
interpreter the professor informed
them that he had legally bought the
plant and intended to remove it. AS
soon as this message was made known TO
the savages every one who had received
a coin came and dropped It in the hole at
the base of the shrub. Professor Schel-
wisch allowed the coins to remain IN the
hole and walked away toward the noun
tain TO hunt another specimen.
ITS STRANGE PROPERTIES DISCOVERED.
Next day as the party was preparing
TO continue the march the professor was
manned undisturbed during the night by
the superstitious natives, and OH ap-
preaching the metal plant, was aston
lshed TO find that in had changed its
color completely. Instead of being a
beautiful steel color, the stems, lerves
and what was exposed of the roots pre-
scented the appearance of newly coined
cRpper 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 co rs,
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 q similar trans
formation. 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 au Ordinary pair of scissors.
Professor SchelwiSch succeeded in sur
reptitiouSly securing several branches of
this wonderful metal eating plant, and
was also scccessful in obtaining a good
the existence of the metal plant was
found until the expedition reached the
Unarpesi country, when at the base of
the NkomabakOsi mountains a perfect
forest of this curiOas plant was found.
This being an unInhabited region no diff
ficulty was encountered in securing speci-
mems TO take back to England.
FIRE DOES NOT AFFECT IT.
While in this locality ample oppor-
tunity was afforded the members of the
expedition to make an exhaustive study
of the habits aud peculiarIties of this
most remarkable OF all species Of the veg
etable kingdom. By species of care
fully conducted experiments it was found
that this plant woCld feed on any kind of
metal placed at its roots end in few
days take on the characteristics OF that
metal, and in the case of the softer
metals often but few hours were re-
quired to effect complete metamorpho-
SIS OF its fiber and color.
Being curious to know how fire would
affect a growing plant of this species,
preparations were made for the test.
Large quantities of seasoned wood were
procured and piled in long row, cover
ing about thirty of the metal plants, and
q fire kindled at the wiudward end.
Stanley and bis entire party watched the
experiment, aud had the satisfaction of
demonstrating that, beyond the black
ening of the foliage by smoke, the in
tense heat to which the metal plant had
been subjected had done no harm to the
plant itself. At the expiration Of q week
it was found that the rain had removed
nearly all the traces of fire, and the
plants were apparently as healthy as ever.
THE LATEST PHASE.