ICEPLANT AND ESPARTO GRASS 



in white cottonwool, like the Lammie''s Lug of our gardens, 

 or else in grey hairs. The general tint of the landscape is 

 not green, but it is rather the colour of the soil silvered over 

 by these grey-haired plants. 



The reason of this is, of course, quite easy to understand. 

 We put on a thick overcoat if we are going to walk in a 

 Scotch mist, to keep out the moisture. These plants cover 

 themselves with hairs or cottonwool to keep the moisture 

 inside. It does not escape easily through the woolly hairs on 

 the skin. 



One very strange plant should be noticed here. This is 

 the Iceplant {Mesembryanthemum cristallinum). Every part 

 of it is covered with little glittering swellings which shine in 

 the sun like minute ice crystals. The swellings contain a 

 store of water, or rather of colourless sap, which makes it able 

 to exist in dry places. Dr. Ludwig says that a torn-ofF branch 

 remained quite fresh for months on his study table. It is 

 probable that these peculiar pearl or ice-like swellings also 

 focus the sunlight, acting like lenses, upon the inner part of 

 the leaf, but that is not as yet fully understood. 



There are two grasses, growing in the desert, which are of 

 some value ; both are called Esparto or Haifa. They are very 

 dry, woody, or rather wiry grasses, especially common in 

 Algeria, Tripoli, and also found in Spain. One of them, 

 Stipa tenacissinia, grows in rocky soil in Morocco, Algeria, 

 and Tripoli. The Arabs search for it in the hills, and dig it 

 up by the roots ; they then load their camels with the grass 

 and bring it to the ports whence it is sent to London or 

 other places. A very good and durable paper is made from 

 it, and ropes, mats, and even shoes are also produced from the 

 fibre. Part of the "esparto" is, however, furnished by 

 another grass {Lygeum sparteum). The natives sometimes tie 



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