Mexico Missouri message., 1901-03-14
A BLCSHING Rec.
TAKES ON A PINK HUE IN
transform.
This Tree Is One of the Natural Won.
ders OF tbs Evergiado Region OF
Florida 49, Phenomenon Explained by
Presence of Insects. 0

Among the many wonders Of those
strange swamps there is nothing more
surprising than the blushing tree" said
Albert f. Dewey of Punta Gorda, Fla,
who has recently passed a month in
the Everglades of Florida. The Blush
ing tree" continued Mr.. Dewey, lis
by no means common. 1t is found only
in the densest thickets of those inter-
minable marshes, whose luxuriant
vegetation is a revelation to explorers
1t Is called the blushing tree by those
who know 1t, because 1t actually blush
es when the rain falls upon it, This
phenomenon is apparently incompre-
hensible. In company with a taciturn
Indian guide | journeyed forty miles
to see this marvellous bit of vegetable
life. could scarcely believe the story
he told me, yet curiosity at length
overcame incredibly, and we set forth
one morning in a small canoe. We
spent nearly three days padding ami
polling our way over the winding
waters In the afternoon of the third
day | began to wonder if he had been
deceiving me for the sake OF the boat
hlre and his pay as guide, when he
gave grunt of satisfaction and point
ed to the right. Distrustfully fol-
lowed him ashore and through the I'M
derbrush. Beneath great cypress trees,
hoary with the gray hanging moss,
and past immense bay trees, we wend-
ed our way inland. Eagerly he led the
way until, reaching the edge OF little
open space, he stopped and with silent
pride pointed toward the center.
Gracefully tree, with broad hanara-
| like leaves, reared itself aloft Wide
spreading branches hung down, slight
ly waving in the warm breeze. Its en-
erald-hued foliage was the most beau
tiful | had ever beheld. It 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
| told him to prepare to camp here
until it rained, regardless of time. We
unrollcd our blankets. stretched out
mosquito bars. without which one cam
not sleep in the glades, cooked SUPPER,
and rolled up in our blankets for tho
night That night. the day following
and the next night passed without rain.
| began to think It would never rain,
when about noon a cloud darkened the
/ sky overhead put rubber poncho
over my shoulders and fixed my eyes
pn he
yards away. II was covered with a
greenish insect the size of a large wood
| tick, which intensified its color The
rain began to fall in torrents, after its
custom in that region. Beside me, grin
ming confidently with pipe in his
mouth, stood the Seminole AS the cool
water drenChed the tree | was amazed
| to note a change of color. Gradually,
| yet Enthusiastically, the green hue was
! giving away to pink. The Indian had
/ told the truth. The tree was blushing
at the rain In a few minutes the green
! had faded from sight. Only few half
| hidden spots beneath broad branches
and on its trunk was there tinge Of
green to be seen. The tree was as pink
as the check of a healthy girl. After
an hour or more the shower passed
over and | watched with no less in
terest the wonderful tree assume its
familiar green once more, As it was
changing back to emerald l suddenly
realized the secret OF the phenomenon.
/ The tiny insects and not the tree itself
| changed color These peculiar para
sites are possessed of the power of
| chameleons. In the bright, warm sun
shine they are greener than the tree
/ on which they live, but when the chilly
rain falls upon them they contract
| their little backs and become a pretty
| pink in color. Millions of them thus
| change the tint of the tree They are
| found only upon one species Of trees
which grow in certain parts of the
| Everglades. Denver Post.