The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-11-26
A TREE THAT BLUSHES.

Among the many wonders of those
strange swamps there is nothing more
surprising than the blushing tree, -
says Albert F. Dewey. of Punta Gorda.
Fla, who has recently passed q month
in the Everglades of that state.
The blushing tree" explains Mr..
Dewey. is by no means common. It
IS found only in the densest thicl1ets of
those interminable marshes, whose
luXuriant vegetation is a revelation to
explorers. 1t is called the blushing tree
by those who know it because it actu-
ally bushes when rain falls upon IT,.
This phenomenon is apparently IncOm-
pTehensible.
The Seminole Indians. who once
ruled Florida, have always known of
the tree, and in their musical language,
now fast disappearing. have words
which mean The maiden tree which
reddens at the kiss of her lover, the
rain
In company with a taciturn Indian
guide l journeyed forty miles to see
this marvellous bit of vegetable life
-Distrustfuily l followed him ashore
and through the undeTbTuSh. Beneath
great cypress trees, hoary with the
gray hanging moss and past immense
BAY trees we wendell our way inland
He led the way until, reaching the edge
of a little open space, he stopped and
with silent pride pointed toward the
centre.
Gracefully a tree, with broad,
banana-like leaves, reared itself -alOft.
Wide spreading branches hung down,
slightly waving in the warm breeze.
It's emerald hued foliage was the most
beautiful 1 had ever beheld. 1t rose to
a height of twenty feet and its thick,
substantial trunk indicated many years
of existence.
This. the old Seminole informed me,
was the blushing tree
Il told him to prepare 70 camp here
until it rained, regardless of time. We
unrOlled our blankets, stretched our
mosquito bars. without which one
cannot sleep in the glades, cooked sup
per and rolled up in our blankets for
the night at the setting of the sun.
That night, the day following and the
next night passed without rain.
Il began to think it would never
rain, when about noon cloud daTken-
ed the sky overhead. 1 put d rubber
pOnchO over my shoulders and fixed my
eyes on the green and pretty tree
dozen yards away. 1t was covered with
a greeniSh insect, the size OF q large
wood tick, which intensified its color.
The rain began to fall in torrents,
after it's custom in that region. Be
side me, gTinning confidently, with
pipe in his mouth, stood the Seminole.
AS the cool water dTenched the tree.
] was amazed to note a changing of
color. Gradually, yet Enthusiastically,
the green hue was giving way to pink.
I could not believe my eyes. Was I
mesmerized2
Hastily I strobe forward up to its
very trunk and under its spread
branches, to obtain a closer look. The
Indian had told the truth.
THE tree was blushing at the rain.
In few minutes the green had faded
from sight. Only in a few, half hidden
spots beneath broad branches and on
its trunk was there a tinge of green to
be seen
The trees was as pink as the cheek
Of a healthy girl. AstOunded 1 re
manned silent. while the Indian NUT
tered words of self praise and salts
faction.
After an hour or more the shower
passed over and I watched with no less
interest the wonderful tree assumed
its familiar green once more