Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-01
RED SNOW.
A Curious Plant Which Thrives Amid
Arctic RixOrs.

Travellers in arctic lands or on high
mountains covered with perpetual snow
have often been startled, not to say hor-
rified, to find that their path over the snow
appeared to be marked in blood. That Is,
each footprint seemed after a moment to
be marked as though the foot had been
dipped in blood In other cases, explorers
in these lands have found that the snov,
instead of being the traditional glistening
white, was stained beautiful crimson
In some cases this condition extended over
miles in area, and afforded a welcome re-
lief from the dazzling wilderness. This is
what is called the red or crimson snow.
1t is, of course, hardly necessary to say
that this phenomenon is in no way con-
nected with actual blood Scientists have
Investigated the subject and have found
out that 1t is caused by the presence Of
enormous quantities of a minute plant. II
q small amount of this colOred snow Is
placed on a piece of white paper and al
lowed to melt and evaporate, there Will Ice
found resduum of granules, just suffi-
paper. When placed under the microscope,
these granuleS resolve themselves into
spherical purple or crimson cells, from one
one thousandth to one three-thouSandth of
an inch in diameter. The wall by which
they are surrounded does not exceed in
thickness the one two-thousandth part Of
an inch Each cell Is found to contain
heterogeneous substances starch and red col
oring matter. The plant, where perfect,
thus has a strong resemblance to a red
currant berry. Each cell is perfectly indie
pendent of all the others with which IT
may be associated, and Is a distinct indi-
vidual plant, within which all the vital
func tons are carried on.
The red snow plant is a fresh water olga,
known to botanists as Protococcus nivalis,
and Is very closely allied to the minute
plant producing the bright green color on
the trunks of trees, brick walls brick
walks, the sides of houses, &c. This green
color, 1t will be remembered, is fresher and
brighter on damp rainy days, and the
red snow plant is much more conspicuous
when the snow is slightly melting.
The red snow plant possesses wonder
full degree of vitality to enable 1T to with
stand the arctic winters. But 1t multiples
with astonishing rapidity, when the con-
ditions are favorable, and has been known
to produce vast and dense masses, some
times twelve feet deep and extending many
miles in length. at was first made known
scientifically in 11GO by Saussure, a cele-
brated French geologist, who found great
patches of it on the summit Of the Brevent
at Chamonnix. 1t was found very soon af-
terward on the snow-capped peaks of the
Pyrenees. and on the lofty hills of Nor
way. 1t is reported that in the year 1SOS
red snow appeared in the Tyrol and on the
hills of northern Italy, in some places COW
erng the surface to depth of six feet.
Ten years later it is recorded that enor-
nous quantities of the same substance were
spread like a bloody pail over the Apen-
mines and other Italian hills, occasioning no
small alarm among the SuperStitiouS inhab-
itants of the surrounding districts, who
looked upon IT as an omen of impending
calamity, and sought refuge from their
fears by various protective ceremonies.
On some of the Peruvian mountains OAR
win observed patches of this curious plant,
his attention having been called to 1T by
observing the footsteps of the mules stained
a pale red, as though the hoofs had been
slightly bloody. But 1T is in arctic coun-
tries that the red snow is most abundant
and luxuriant. 1t has been reported by Sir
John Ross, Sir w. E. Parry and by nearly
all arctic explorers since their time. 1t is,
however not exclusively confined to arctic
or Anime lands, for it has been OCCASION
ally found spreading over decayed leaves
and MOSES on the borders of lakes, and
even in water tanks in hot houses. The
cold is, however, its more natural home.
F. H, X.