East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-10-17

rae) of the cucumber family, says the
St. Louis Post Dispatch. Like the
camel, this plant finds that 1t is a
long time between drinks, and, like
the camel again, nature has prepared
1t for these periods of drouth. The
rainy season Is short In the desert and
occurs only once year. So that the
plant may obtain enough moisture
for the dry season, 1t Is provided with
a reservoir to store up water. the
organ I'm which the water Is stored
Is at the base of the stem and is COW
cred with a sort OF waterproof en-
velope through which the water can
neither escape nor evaporate
Drinking Orchid.
A most remarkable plant Is the
drinking orchid, which is found In
South America. This orchid takes a
drink whenever It feels thirsty, by
means OF a tube which it lets down
into the water The formation Of this
orchid Is different from other shapes.
growing round the root and radiating
OF it's species, II having sharp leaves,
lancehead from II. From the center
Of the plant hangs the tube, about
one-elghth of an inch thick and one
fourth OF an inch wide.
When touched it gradually contracts
and rolls itself up in spirallike coll. /
As a rule these orchids are to be
found growing directly over water, or
where water has been, and In the lat
ter 1t is alost pathetic to see how the
tube will work its way over the ground
to a pool or river. The drinking tube
when not In use Is coiled up on top OF
the plant.
Resurrection Plant.
During the fall and early winter
several years ago a number of men
might have been observed in the
streets selling an odd little plant which
they called resurrection plant"
Many and wonderful were the tales
told OF the plant by these itinerant
statesmen to persuade prospective Gus
toners to purchase. Most Of them
either stated directly or else led their
hearers to infer that the plants came
from the Holy Land. where they We're
emblematical OF the resurrection.
Most OF them. however. We're polypod-
ium incarnium. the commonest of all
ferns Of Florida. During the dry sea-
son the plant curls UP into a small
ball and has the appearance OF being
dead. In this condition IT will bear
transportation very well. When II
Is placed IN a bowl containing a little
water the leaves unfold and assume
a bright green color. forming a rather
pretty and ornamental plant.
Eouth American MIX Plant
one OF the most remarkable Of the
worlds trees. found along the ANA
zon, IN South America, Is the masser- $
anduba or milk tree. 1t is magnifi-
cent tree, even in that country of illi- {
gltlmate forests, rising with a straight 6
stem to an enormous height. The =
timber is very hard, fine grained and
durable and is valued for structures
which are much exposed to the wealth
ar. The fruit is edible and very good,
being the size Of small apple and
Iuli Ol IlCll anu juicy pup
But strangcst Of all Is the vegetable
milk. which exudes in abundance
when the bark is cut. The milk has
about the consistence Of thick cream
ma save for q very. slight, peculiar
aste. could scarcely be distinguished
rom the product of the COW. The
natives use this tree milk in their cof-
zee and tea and in cooking. 1t is
Ised for glue and is said to be dur
lbe.
The "Raln Tree"
Another curious South American
rec. and one about which many ro-
nantic tales have been woven. is the
o-called rain tree which possesses
reservoir for water in hollow at the
,ase OF its leaf The natives have
ong asserted that under its shade
.rass will grow in wonderful abund-
nee. This is due to the interesting
act that the leaves of the tree pos
ess the power of Independent motion.
At sunset the leaves close together
flowing the dew to form on the grass
,eneath with the reappearance of
he sun the leaves expand again and
screen the grass beneath,
hus effectually checking excessive
yaporation.
India's sacred Trees
In India seven different species of
rees are considered sacred, and wor-
hippcd accordingly. Among them
he finest looking and the most use
III is the aswatta, or pagoda fig tree.
'lshnu. one of the Hindu gods, is
aid to have been born under it. To
,ll one of these trees would be an un-
act of sacrllege. The vepu
r markosa tree. which is dedicated
, silva. Is sometimes married to the
swatta. with impressive ceremonies.
An amusing story Is told about the
eepul. another sacred tree. The po-
teal agent at Iuwar, Hindustan. some
ears ago wished to plant an avenue
f trees on either side of the road in
ont of the shops, for shade purposes
nd had decided to use peepul trees,
at the native shonkeepers. one and
i. declared that if this were done
ley wiuld not take the shops. When Z
ressed for reason they replied
ley would not take the shops. When
Ilsely under the shade of the peepu
ee, and added:
How can we carry on business \
herwlse? ?"