Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-01-29
aiaNT FLOWERS OF sumAraA.
A Curious Parasite Four Feet Across Found Feeding on a Vine.


 Feeding on Vine.
 One of the most remarke ble discov. cries, sensational in every particular. comes from Sumatra. Some years ago several botanists were travelling through the country in search of new things in plant life. when the natives told them of 8 gigantic flower, de- scriping it in such weird terms that they at 6rst did not believe the ecr count. but one day Dr. Arnold, one of the party, came upon the wonder. He was not only amazed, but dumfounded, the strange object that met his view making 8 profound impression upon him. Later he said: "To tell the truth, had been alone and there had been no witnesses 1 should, think, have been fearful of mentioning the dimen- sions of this flower, so much does 1t exceed every flower have ever seeA or heard of.' Passing from the bush fronted by gigantic flower, appar- ently growing alone, without leaves or verdure, from the ground, The petals, five in number, were thick and fleshy, ovey an inch in thickness. while the center presented the appearance of bowl, from which projected curss ous spikes The entire flower was nearly four feet across; each petal weighed almost three pounds, and the entire flower, fl it could have boon held up, would have entirely concealed the person holding it. The flower weighed, in some specimena twenty five or thirty pounds. The neotaHy alone could catch end hold twelve pints of water.
 The new discovery was startling ip many ways. 1t was flower without leaves, oY anything but the ettaohmens to the earth-~a complete puzsle--snd at first 1t looked like @ gigantic toad stool that had taken the form of q flower. Tipping one ot the towers over 1t was found that it grew from g delicate leefess stem not larger then two fingers. and was, in short. wons derful flower parsslte growing and de- irving Its sustenence from the body oS huge vine that tn turn wound aboue the trees ok the forest. The story o3 this flower was received with inered. ulity, but 1t has since been seen by many, and been named, after Sir stam. ford Rallies, raffiesia. No one would have thought cf finding tn Sumatre ' giant ally of the little "wake sobin," but such 8 discovery come to Beccari. and amazed him equally as much as did the radaesis DY. Arnold. Beccari also had heard rumors froux the natives of 6 flower higher than g man, and which ao certain timea gave out an odor that was fatal to man and beast. The Italian neturalist did not believe the latter, and determined to make & vigorous search foy the man. killing plant Finely, deep in tho for. est. he came upon 1t. It resembled a lilly, but 0 giahSt end spofn tho centar of the flower rose trspadix that was six feet in height--op aA tall as 6 large man. The stalked leaves were ten feet long, the whole peouiiay plano taking up an area of forty.fye square feet. The diameter of th6 spathe was about three feet. bell shaped. with serrated sdges of delicate green tint, while upon the outside it was 0 rich purple hue. The odor was not poisonous. but was we'll calculated to keep both mad and beast at d distance.
 A few yeara ago friend of Beeoarf, the Marchese Cofs1- -Salviatl of Flor. ence, presented Q potted tubes u1 this plant weighing afty-sevep pounds td the royal gardeps of Kew, Eug..au8 one night 1t bloomed, to the aston. tshment and delight of those who saH 1t The plan* ie called tue gianfarufn, Northwestern chsistian Advocatk
 --Ine psopis mosv n Qsnger oxaH ing to hell, are thoss who expecs S> start for Heaven tosrnersew. --RsMH Horn.
 The pubbin hslds it's hsad up neiJA and perk. The heavy ear bews iN! head and drops its tAsssl. l.--lnteyior.
 God may dslsy answefs to praysYei in order to prove snd iupsevs the fAitk of those why pray.-WstctmAn-
 Indulge tendency. cad you have an act; repeat the act, and xeu form | habit; . bundle of 9t oh habits cenbtl. tutes g character, eithsf good or bai United PrssbyteriAn.
 Duty does the work 1t Ia teld to d. but working with bowed head 1t fa lcfi for Faith to discovsy eppertunitie,. Ea!lh looks up. pnt1 |ahs S{1h~jj