The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-23
TREES OR PLANTS THAT GIVE LIGHT.
Interesting Instances Described by a
Naturalist.
Prof. Charles Z. Holder in Northwestern
Christian Advocate.

Prof. Charles Z. Holder in Northwestern
Christian Advocate.
That a tree or plant could give light was
deemed a figure of the Imagination; but
to-day it is known that light-giving plants
are not uncommon, and among the most
striking and remarkable of natural phe-
nomena. Once, in returning from days
hunt through a deep forest in the heart
of the Adirondack region, / stumbled
against a dead limb of a tree. when to my
amazement l was at once surrounded By
a. silver light that few in all directions
like darts and arrows of fire, each piece
burning where it lay. This was an I'M
usually brilliant display of the best known
of luminous plants. the fox fire or
s'vyitches' glow of childhood DAYS TO the
layman IT is often mysterious. as inVesti-
cation shows nothing but the decayed
wood, and sometimes a soft, pulpy mass.
The botanist will soon point out the light
giVer in the mycellum OF some Fungus
that has permeated the old branch, and
fairly taken possession of IL, converting
it into glorious spectacle when dis
turbed The VividnesS of the light may be
estimated when it is known that print
can often be read by it; and the light of
some has been known to penetrate through
several thicknesseS of paper.
Singular to say, the smallest plant often
has the means of producing the greatest
luminous effects This is the diatom,
found floating in the ocean in vast num-
bers, and as the nucleus of the diatom is
often brilliantly phosphorescent, some of
the most remarkable displays of light OBJ
served by the naturalists were occasioned
by these little plants. But what shall we
say to d sight observed by Norwegian
bark in the bay of Funchal? The waters
here are fairly alive with these little iu-
minous plants the year round, and on the
occasion referred to waterspout formed
among them. During the day 1t would
have attracted little attention, as the phe-
nomenon is q common one; but the crew
of tls ship were suddenly confronted at
night by a literal pillar of fire or light,
that extended upward TO distance seem
ingly of 600 feet and moved along with
decided bend. 1t emitted a pale yellow
light that stood out in strong relief 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
phenomena, which can readily be traced
TO luminous plants. In the HartZ noun
tains there has been for ages q cave
known as the haunted cavern, and vol
umes could be written on the tales of
ghosts and strange phaltoms observed
in and about il by the peasantry. Fin
allv an F,nglishman travelling in the Vicin-
ity, and hearing of ii, determined to inves-
tigate the mystery, and, after much per-
s1Iasion, 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
remain, so the SuSi4SLlAdH AOCA MS
station in the entrance and waited I'M
til night. No sooner did complete dark
ness set in than tn IN the phantom of the
cave appeared-a remarkable semblance
10 a human form, with arms outspread,
outlined against the gloom. If the truth
he told, the investigator was startled;
INT making his way to the figure that
had alarmed so many woodchoppers and
wayfarers, he found that It was a plant
that grew upon the wall in that shape.
II was the well known phosphorescent
fungus Rhizomospha subterranea,. fire.
T4niners It's light is often so vivid that
1eople have read by it; and many Of the
gbosts that are seen in dungeons, caves,
and tombs may be traced 10 this inno-
cent origin.