Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-08-28
MErALlvonous sARuns.
A Plant That Thrives on Copper Coins
aud Old Tin pana.

A Plant That Thrives on Copper Coins
aud ola Tin Pans.
Prof Schelwisch, tho well-lKnown
naturalist Of Bavaria, while travelling
with the Stanley expedition in tho
heart of Africa, noticed plant with a
peculiar steel-colorcd foliage, And on
examination IL was found that the shrub,
although growing like other plants from
the soil, was practically composed Of
iron. Tho leaves, although very thin,
were bent with great difficulty, and tho
twigs and branches resisted pressure
with force about equal TO the same
amount Of iron, and to secure leaf 1t
was found necessary 10 separate II from
tho 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 menacing
manner. The Professor desisted from
his work and the interpreter was sent
for. He explained that this was holy
tree, and worshiped by tho natives in
their fetch religion as a god plant, and
that to dig one up would bring ruin and
desolation upon tho whole village and
surrounding country.
Prof Schelwisch offered 10 buy the
plant, and, taking out handful Of cop
per coins, gave them TO tho savages,
who gladly accepted the money and
distributed it among themselves. Tho
Professor then returned TO tho 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 It, As
soon as this message was made known
TO tho sayages every one who had re-
ceived a coin came and dropped it in
the hole at the base Of the shrub. Prof.
Schelwisch allowed the coins TO remain
in tho hole and walked away toward the
mountain to hunt another specimen.
Noxt day, as tho party were preparing
to continue tho march, the Professor
was curious TO know II the coins had re-
mained undisturbed during the night
by the superstitious natives, and on APP
preaching the metal plant was aston
ished TO find ii had changed Its color
completely. Instead of being beauti-
ful 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 tho strange plant had abb
sorbed nearly all the copper coins, with
the result Of completely changing its
color.
What was left of tho coins in the hole
showed that they were more than half
eaten away or absorbed by the roots OF
tho metal plant. Not only was tho
color changed, but the texture of the
plant had undergone a similar transfer
mation. 1t was found that the thin ivy
shaped leaves we're now easily bent
around the fingers, would retain any
shape given, and could DO readily cut
with any ordinary pair OF scissors.
Prof. Schelwisch succeeded in surrepti-
tiousa~~ecuring several branches 81 this
wonderful metal eating plant, and was
also successful in obtaining a good
photograph Of it. No further trace OF
the existence OF tho metal plant was
found until the expedition reached the
Uniamesi country, when at the base of
the Nkomabakosi Mountains a perfect
forest OF this curious plant was found.
This being an uninhabited region, no. !
was encountered in securing
specimens TO take back to England.
A great fire was built about the tree,
but It would not burn tho least little
bit. Philadelphia Times.