PLANTS THAT MIMIC 29 



of the evil reputation of the insect or the plant 

 that it mimics. 



A unique case of imitation is the rattlesnake iris 

 which grows abundantly in the western part of the 

 United States, especially on the dry plains where 

 cattle, horses, and sheep graze. To prevent itself 

 from being eaten, this plant mimics, by means of 

 its dry seeds, the noise of the rattlesnake; and not 

 only does it mimic the rattle of the snake, but its 

 fruits are held in small glossy black capsules not 

 unlike the black head of certain other snakes. 



There is a species of red lotus which grows in 

 the tropics whose fruit-pods are formed like a 

 wasp's nest; and the India-rubber plant has roots 

 whose convolutions and contortions are like so 

 many snakes twisting out of the earth. 



If we examine the lichens we find a trumpet, 

 a hat, and various letters. Mildews and moulds 

 arrange themselves into cages, clubs, cups and 

 saucers, umbrellas, knives and forks, snake-like 

 creatures; and one kind of fungus imitates the 

 most exquisite lace. 



Strange and very animal-like plants are the 

 Raoulias of New Zealand. They grow in compact 

 masses on the sides of semi-barren hills, and are 

 so strikingly like a sheep in appearance that it is 

 not uncommon for shepherds to approach them and 



