Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-03
Some of the Marvels of the Tropical
Forests.
JUNGLES ABLAZE WITH LIGHT
A Mystery That Science is Unable
to Explain.
ALLEGED HAUNTED CAVES

party was moving through forest at
night, when, without warning, large light
appeared. At first dim, 1t increased in
size, growing larger and larger, until finally
q tree was outlined In a soft, pulsatlng
light.
The natives were demoralized, and re-
fused to approach it, saying that 1T WIS
the sacred tree of fire. But the naturalist
had little faith in trees Of fire. and investi-
gated 1t, finding that the light was due to
certain insects, which, by the way, has
never been observed since.
That a tree or plant could give light was
deemed figure of the imagination; yet
today it is known that light-giving plants
are not uncommon, and among the most
striking and remarkable of natural pho
nomena. Once in returning from days
hunt through deep forest in the heart of
the Adirondack region l stumbled against
a dead limb of a tree. when to my amaze
ment was at once surrounded by silvery
light that flew in all directions like darts
and arrows of fire, each piece burning
where 1t lay. This was an unusually bril-
liant display of the best known of luminous
plants, the "fox fire. witches glow of
childhood days. To the layman 1t is often
mysterious, as investigation shows nothing
but the decayed wood, and sometimes
soft, pulpy mass. The botaniSt Will soon
point out the light gtver in the mycellum OF
some fungus that has permeated the ola
branch and fairly taken possession or II.
converting it into a glorious spectacle when
disturbed. The vividness of the light may
be estimated when 1t Is known that prlns
can often be read by it, and the light OF
some has been known to penetrate through
several thickneSSeS of paper.
Luminous Plants.
Singular to say the smallest plant is
often the means of producing the greatest
luminous effects. This Is the diatom, winch
the naturalists of the Challenger found
floating in the ocean in vast numbers, and
as the nucleus Of the diatom is often bril-
liantly phosphoresccnt some OF the most
remarkable displays of light observed by
the naturalsts were occasioned by these
little plants. But what shall we say to
sight observed by Norwegian bark IN
the Bay of Funchal? The waters here are
fairly alive with these little luminous
plants the year around, and on the occa-
sion referred to water spout formed
among them. During the day II would
have attracted little attention. as the phe-
romcnon is a common one, but the crew
of the ship were suddenly confronted at
night by a literal pillar OF fire or light
that extended upward to distance SEEM
irgly of a thousand feet, and moved along
with a decided bend 1t emitted pale
yellow light and stood out in strong re-
lief against the black night. weird and
formidable spectacle, rushing on before
the wind.
In the legends of nearly all countries
there are burning bushes and similar phe-
nomena which can readily be traced to
IL minous plants. One of these legends
from the northern part of Afghanstan
states that there was a certain spring
about or near which grew n burning plant
which disappeared when any one approach
ed. In 1915 the natives near Sinila were
greatly alarmed by plant which they
said burned with a fierce GLOW at night
the mountains near Syree-a, light that
came from a plant known as dictamnus.
An English naturalist wishing to aston
ish some natives in a wild part Of Asia
in which he was travelling and impress
them with his supernatural powers Sc
cured a certain vine known as euphorbia
phosphorea, and rubbing it upon big
rock caused the latter to CLEAN with flame
and present so remarkable a spectacle that
the natives ran, believing that he had set
the rock afire by simply touching 1t. The
naturalist was aware that the milky Juice
of this plant, that resembled the dande-
lion, was brilliantly phosphorescent.
The Phantom of the Cave.
In the Hartz mountains there has been
for ages a cave known as the haunted
cavern. and volumes could be written on
the tales of ghosts and strange phau-
toms observed in and about 1t by the peas
antry. Finally an Englishman travelling
In the vicinity, and hearing of 1t, deter
mined to investigate the mystery, and
after much persuasion obtained two young
men to guide him to the haunted cavern
high among the mountains
After a long climb they reached the cave
but nothing would induce the guides to
remain, so the Englishman took his sta
ton In the entrance and waited until night
No sooner did complete darkness set In
than the phantom of the cave appeared
q remarkable Spmhiance To 81 human form
with arms outspread, outlined against the
gloom. If the truth he told the investi-
gator was startled. but making his way to
the figure that had alarmed so many wood
choppers and wayfarers he found 1t was
plant that grew upon the wall in that
shape. 1t was the well known phosphor-
escent fungus Rhisomospba subterranea
frequently found in caves and familiar to
miners. It's light is often so vivid that
people have read by It; and many of the
ghosts that are seen in dungeons, caves
and tombs may be traced to this innocent
origin.
These curious lights are not found in the
tropics alone. Some years ago Mr. Nor
rell editor of the Gardiner (Me) Journal
wrote me that he had observed brilliant
steady light in his garden at times, to-
tally unaccounted for by any mechanical
continuance. and which, upon investiga-
ton, proved to be the phosphorescent light
emitted by the young Of the plant Tianus
Stypticus.
astonishes strangers who penetrate the
deep jCrgles of the interior. Another is
found growing on palm trees. emitting
brilliant greenish hue, and known as the
Flor de Coco.
Some Used as Lamps.
Perhaps the most startling exhibition
was observed several years ago by an
English traveller in Borneo. Belated he
was overtaken by night. and, there being
no moon, he was fearful of losing his way
when. as the darkness came on. singular
lights appeared here and there in the
bushes and by the roadside Some were
yellow, others burned or seemed to- with
bright greenish hue. AS 1t grew darker
the blaze of light increased, and finally the
traveller was amazed to find that he was
passing through lines Of luminous bush
which emitted light 80 brilliant that he
could read by tia strange and awe-in-
spring spectacle, which struck terror to
the hearts of his followers, who saw him
handle what they supposed to be fire with
out harm.
Mr.. Hugh Low. a well-known English
writer, witnessed a similar scene. He de-
scribes the jungle as being ablaze with
light, and so vivid that he read by 1t.
In Australia these agarics are utilized
for the light they give. Especially on the
Swan river they are very common, where
Drummond, the naturalist, first noticed
two specimens on the roots Of trees. He
beir af MIC