The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-20
SOME STRANGE PLANTS.
Odd Specimens from Distant Parts
Of the World
Bark That Resembles Lace Gy-ating
Leaves-Toothbrush Trees, Snake
Seed, and Many Other
CurIos.


agriculture of plants useful to man
adds new department OF interest to
the public museums of Washington,
says the Collector Among the most
remarkable of the plants is the lace
bark tree of Jamaica, the inner bark of
which is composed of many layers OF
fbers, that interlace it in all directions.
Caps, rufies, and even complete suits of
lace are made from it. II bears wash
ing with common soap. and when
bleached in the sun acquires degree Of
wilderness equal to the best artificial
lace, with which this surprising natural
product compares quite favorably as to
beauty.
Another curiosity is known in the
tropics as the sandbark tree, and also as
the monkeys dinner bell. 1t has a
round, hard-shelled fruit. about the
size of an orange, which, when ripe
and dry, bursts with sharp noise like
the report of a pistol Its juice is
poisonous. The South American
trumpet tree might furnish band
with musical instruments. inasmuch as
its hollow branches are utilized for
horns and also for drums.
From Travoncore comes quaint
plant called the cerberus, which has a
milky, poisonous juice. The unripe
fruit is used by the natives to destroy
dogs, as its action causes their teeth to
loosen and fall ont. The leaves of the
so-called American aloe are made into
razor strops and arc also employed for
cleaning and securing pewter Quite a
wonderful tree is the calabash Of the
West Indies, which bears enormous
fruits that resemble pumpkins, which
grow to be nearly two feet in di-
ameter. With the pulp removed they
serve various purposes-for carrying
water and even as kettles for cooking
having the great advantages of strength
and lightness.
Another queer plant in the collection
belongs to the pea family and is called
the moving plant" on account of the
manner in which its leaves turn around
of their own accord or go by jerks
without being touched or in any way
disturbed Sometimes only one or two
leaves on a plant will be affected; at
other times they will all perform jumps
and gyrations simultaneously. 1t is 90
served that the movements are most en-
ergetic when the thermometer marks
about eighty degrees. The dumb cane
is so called because its fleshy, cane-like
stems render speeches. anyone who
may happen to bite them.
In the West Indies grows the silk cot
ton or gold tree, the fruit of which is
very beautiful silky fiber, highly elastic
teresting specimen is the pippul tree of
the Hindoos. which is held in such ven
Grafton that it is considered a crime to
cut off one of the branches. There is
also Il toothbrush tree from Jamaica.
Toothbrushes are made from it by cut
ting pieces of the stem to convenient
lengths and fraying the ends. 1t also
supplies, conveniently enough, an ex-
cellent tooth powder, which is prepared
by pulverizing the dried stems
This wonderful vegetable assemhlage
includes the celebrated henna plant of
the east, the powdered leaves of which
are commonly utilized as cosmetic in
Asia and northern Africa. The prac-
tice has descended from very remote
ages, as is proved by the Egyptian num-
mics, the parts dyed being usually the
finger and toe nails, the tips OF the fin
gers. the palms of the hands, and the
soles of the feet. The reddish tint pro-
iuced is considered highly ornamental
by Oriental bellies. In Brazil there
grows a tree which has hard nrn-shaped
fruits, known as monkey cups. They
contain edible nuts, and the husl1s are
very peculiar. being six inches in diane
ter and having regular lids which fit
hem closely and separate when the
seeds are mature.
The snake tree of Guiana is so called
because the seed is twisted in a manner
o resemble 4 coiled serpent For this
'eason the Indians employ the nuts as
IN antidote for snake poison. Another
is the papyrus of Asia, which
Tielded the substance used as paper by
t,e ancient Egyptians For this pur-
bose the wood of the reed stem was cut
n slices, which We're placed side by
ide, according to the size of sheet re-
iuired. After being wet and beaten
With 4 wooden instrument until smooth
hey were pressed and dried in the sun
A queer plant is native of Madagas-
ar. Formerly the seeds. which are
cry poisonous. were administered to
persons accused OF crime. If the in
lividual was innocent the dose excited
omiting and his recovery was looked
.pon as satisfactory vindication, but
when retained in the stomach it quick |
V proved fatal and guilt was then es- |
a blished- The vegetable ivory plant !
+ South America is a well-llnown com !
lercial article. It's seeds al first con- /
ain clear, insipid liquid. which |
hanges by degrees until it becomes as /
ard as ivory, for which it IS used as |
Cbstitute.
From eastern Asia comes plant. the |
overs of which contain a quantity of .
lice that rapidly turns black or deep /
urple. 1t Is used by Chinese ladies for
yeing their hair and eyebrows, and in
ava for backing shoes. Decidedly re-
is the camphor tree, from
.hich camphor is prepared by boiling
he chopped branches in water. Il Is
1ainly produced in the island of For
losa. Inasmuch as il grows well in
he southern states there is reason to
elicve that the preparation of cam
her will some day become profitable
ldustry in this country.
The aruotta plant has seeds coated
18th red, waxy pulp, which is dried
nd made into cakes 1t is much en-
loyed by the South American Cariaa
" painting their bodies, paint being
limos. their only article of ciothinr