The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1896-05-01
CURIOUS WATER PLANTS.
How They Supply Water for Thirs ty Ira
elers and Native Animals.

How Thcy,Supply Water for Thirsty Trav.
elers and Native Animals.
1t is natural to think of water plants
simply as special varieties that grow and
bloom in water, but more useful and
more surprising specimens grow in dis
tant lands. Travellers who have had oc.
casion to pass over the dry sandy plains
of the Eastern continent were constantly
surprised in finding that Nature has sup
piled plants that can store and hold
moisture for the animals that live in
their vicinity, and also for, the thirsty
traveller.
Campbell mentions these "Way-marks
placed in the wilderness" in recounting
his experiences on these sandy plains.
In crossing the plains of Africa, far
distant from any stream of water, there
traveller. and as far as the eye can
reach nothing is to be seen but heaps of
sand, extending like the undulations OF
the sea. Here he discovered several
creeping plants of luXuriaut vegetation
They were covered with berries contain
ing about three teaspoonfuls Of water
each. On inspecting them more closely
he was astonished to observe number
of mice, the only inhabitants, seemingly
gagged in nibbling off the berries and
carrying them to their holes, as sea-
men would convey casks of water to
their ships.
Another curious instance of the won.
,lerfui provision of Nature in supplying
water-producing plants for special needs
is seen in the lamium palustro, a native
of Labrador. The leaves are formed
like spoons, the concave side being I'D,
with water, affording fresh supply t.
the birds of that rOl1ntrv
~ species Of stapelia is abundant in the
interior of Africa, and because of it's
wonderful facility for retaining water
amidst the scverest drouths it has been
called the camel of the vegetable world
There has been Il good deal of speculation
among naturalists concerning the source
of its supply i'll those torrid regions
/ where the earth and the air are equally
destitute of moisture. This is simply
one Of natures economies, the mystery
of which we cannot discover
The tallandsia utriculata of the West
| Indies has every leaf terminated near the
stalk with hollow bucket, which con.
tains from half pint to quart of wa.
ter. This is kept III store until it is re,
uuired for the sustenance Of the plant
The water contained in these little buck.
cts not only supplies the plant, but forms
good cool drink for anyone passing
through the country.
The swamps of the Bay of Campeachy
which are on a level with the sea, be-
come so completely parched during the
heat of the summer that huntsnen that
lose themselves in the extensive forests
with which they are covered, would be
in danger of perishing from thirst were
they not provided with living fountains
in the Wilderness, where there are nj
springs of running water.
The trunks of a kind of pine, indigen
Gus to the soil, arc covered With species
of fungus. These are called pineapples
| from their peculiar form. They resem
bic q packet of leaves piled one upon an
other. and are so full o.; sap that, OF
making an incision in them with knit,
at the base, nearly n pint of wholesome
juice Immediately distils, which quickly
quenchcs the thirst.
The raining tree of the Canaries is
even more wonderful than these smaller
plant erowths. 1t gives a regular suppl!
| of pure water to an island destitute OF
this blessing. This interesting tree is al
evergreen, Of considerable size, with thcl
leaves and wide, spreading branches
Every morning mist rises from the
sea. which rests on the thick leaves Of
the tree, and distils in drops during the
remainder of the day, till it is ut length
exhausted. The water that drops from
it furnishes every family on the islanC
| with all that is sufficient for domestic
purposes. and men are employed by the
council to distribute the necessary sup
! plies.-P. W. H. in Philadelphia Times.