Evening star., 1945-04-04
This and That
By Charles E. TrdceDell.
FORT DAVIS PLACE Sc.


Dear Sir.s g
Perhaps you may be able to tell my
wife and me the name Of a queer. vine
tree we saw while taking tramp last
Sunday
1T was growing In the front yard of
a house and could have been "a vine,
though it was propped up With frame
work so that 1t resembled gnarled
tree.
I'VE were startled by popping noises
which came from that direction. These
proved to be the result Of pods bursting
suddenly with the effect Of scattering
the seeds far and near.
The pods seemed to have been under
twisting strain so that when the seams
gave away the seeds were flung out with
the twist motion resulting therefrom.
This left the pod remnant In cork
screw shape.
I'VE gathered some of the seeds which
we could get to without trepassing Per-
haps If we had been nervy enough, We
would have asked the owner. We ask
you. instead.
you see. we hope to grow some OF
the seeds, and 1t would be nice to know
the name OF what we have.
Your column Is very enjoyable. Your
defense OF squirrels, strikes 4 sympa-
thetic note with me. Sometime I will
write you the story Of the flying squirrel
we had for pet, his tricks and his
tragic end.
He was q better pet and companion
by far than any dog or cat We ever had.
Have you spent any time in Fort
Dupont Park? That park Is only three
blocks from our home and we like it
fully as WELL If not better, than Rock
Greek Park. If one tramps there on
noncrowded weekday, birds Of all the
sorts you mention will be found. Sum
day, as In Rock Creek Park. there are
too many noisy humans.
I'VE hope you can answer our ques-
ton, and more power to your homespun
philosophy and humor.
Sincerely, 1t. r. E. c.. U. S. N. r."
X
Our correspondents plant is the ia
nous wistaria, or wisteria, which does
very well in Washington and vicinity.
The popping forth of the seeds does
not occur every year. Usually it is on
frosty night in the fall, often at
Halloween. Sometimes In the spring.
Unusual weather conditions this spring
have resulted in the popping.
These seeds, thrown from the pods
with force, can be hurled for many
feet.
A neighbor tells of seeds being thrown
from a trained vine against the window
OF house next door.
Occupants Of that house, hearing the
noise, telephoned to inquire II any prowl-
ers had been seen.
A police car, going by, heard the noise,
and the oficers stopped to ask II any
boys with BIB guns had been seen.
When 1t was explained that nothing
more than 4 wistaria vine was making
the noise, the oficers trained their flash
lights on the offender In wonder.
\ \
The wistaria is named after DR.. Cas-
par Wistar Of Philadelphia, who lived
between 1851 and 1873
He was famous man In his day, an
anatomist. connected with the Univer-
sity Of Pennsylvania, and president Of
the American Philosophical Society, sue.
ceeding Thomas Jefferson.
Prof. L. II. Bailey, in most OF his
books, gives the spelling as "wistaria."
with an "a" after the It," but In other
works OF reference 1t Is spelled with an
"e," wisteria.
Practically every one uses the "e"
sound, however, no n1&tter how they
spell it. Wehster,s gives the spelling Is
'wistaria," which would seem the most
sensible, since the mans name was WIS.,
tar. Yet Prof.. Bailey, in his How
Plants Get Their Names" gives, in q
long list of generic names of plants,
"wisteria!" The "e" form Is misspell-
inc nvf6Anf1v U,Aic1a hac hAAva ,,oAA 50
much that 1t has become acceptable.
To grow the wistaria as bush, 1t must
be pruned severely. annually. If prop
erly pruned, it will maintain the shape
without bracing.