The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-04-26

One Of the most remarkable discov-
cries. sensational In every particular.
comes from SumCtra. Some years ego
fcvpral bltaniats were travelling
through the country In search Of new
things IN plant life. when the natives
told them Of q gigantic flower dCscrih-
ing In such weird terms that at first
they did not believe the account. but
one day. Dr. Arnold. one Of the party
came upon the wonder. says the North
western Christian Advocate. lie was not
only amazed. but dumfounded, the
strange object that met his eye making
a profound Impression upon him. Later
he said "To tell the truth. had been
alone and there had been no witnesses.
| should think, have been fearful Of
mentioning tho dimenslona Of this
/ flower. 30 much does II exceed every
/ flower | had ever seen or heard Of
/ Passing from the bush 10 some trees,
| the dlscOvcror was confronted by n 81
gantic flower. apparently growing alone
without leaves or yerdurc from the
/ ground The petals five In number,
were thick and fcshy. over On inch In
thickness. while the center presented
the appearance Of bowl. from which
/ projected curious spikes. The entire
Flower was near four feet across; each
petal weighed almost three pounds and
the entire flower. N II could have been
held up. would have entirely concealed
the person holding IT, The Hover
weighed. In some specimens. twenty
1--WE or thirty pounds. Tho ncctnry
alone could catch and hold twelve plnts
OF water.
The now discovery was startling IN
many ways. Il was 'ower without
leaves or anything but the attachment
to the oarth-a complete puzzlc-and
at ilrat II looked like a gigantic toad
stool that had taken the form Of a
flower Tipping one Of the flowers over
II was found that II grew from a deli
cate loailoss stem not larger than two
fingers, and was. In short. wonderful
flower parasite growing and deriving
It's suatonance from the body OF a huge
vine that In turn wound around the
trees OF the forest Tho story OF this
flower was received with incredibly,
, but IL has since been seen by many.
7 and been named, after Sir Stamford
Rallies. raiiloaia. No one would have
thought Of finding In Sumatra giant
ally OF the little wake robin" but such
a discovery came TO Beccari. and
amazed him equally M much as did
the raillesla DR.. Arnold. Beccari also
/ had heard rumors from the natives OF O
: flower higher than a man. and which
p at certain times gave out an odor that
7 was fatal TO man and beast The ltal'
( ian naturalist did not believe the latter
% and determined TO make vigorous
y search for the man-killing plant. Fin
n ally. deep In the forest. he came upof
4 Il. II resombled n lily. but a giant
r. and from the center OF the flower ros'
\ a spadiX that was six fcot In height
!. or aa tall an large man. The stalkes
II leaves were ten feet long. the whole pc
II culiar plant taking up an area OF 4
n square feet. The diameter Of the spath
10 was about three feet. bell shaped, wit
10 serrated edges OF delicate green tint
Il while upon the outside II was a ric
4 purple hue. The odor was not poison
Gus. but was well calculated TO keo
10 both man and beast al n distance.
~ A few years ago friend OF Beccar
+. the Marchcse COrsi-Salylnti OF Florence
!. presented potted tubor OF this plan
4. Toighing hfty-seyen pounds TO the royi
10 gardens at Kew. England. and one nigh
"A u hloomed 10 the establishment and dc
N light OF those who saw II. The plant
II called the giant-nrum.