390 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



sends out a certain ray like lightning ; it is not easily 

 taken by such as would do it, but recedes from their 

 hands." ^ The only virtue this root possesses is its sup- 

 posed power in the expulsion of demons. 



The root-stock of a plant from the Ooraghum 

 jungles is said to possess the peculiar property of re- 

 gaining its phosphorescent appearance when a dried 

 fragment of it was submitted to moisture, " gleaming 

 in the dark with all the vividness of the glow-worm, 

 or the electric scolopendra, after having been moist- 

 ened with a wet cloth applied to its surface for an 

 hour or two, and did not seem to lose the property by 

 use, becoming lustreless when dry, and lighting up 

 again whenever moistened." - 



This, or a similar plant has long been known to the 

 Brahmins under the name of Jyotismati, and said to 

 be produced by a species of Cardiospernmin. Sanscrit 

 authorities say that it is found in the Himalayas ; 

 and Major Madden found upon enquiry at Almora 

 that there was a luminous plant well known there 

 as Jyotismati or Jwalla-mat, which names imply 

 the possession of light or fire. The Almora plant 

 proved to be the roots of the fragrant khus-khus 

 grass, of which only one in a hundred is said to be 

 luminous at night in the rainy season. The roots 



* *' Wars of the Jews," book vii., cap. vi. 



3 "Proc. Royal Asiatic Society," April, 1845. 



