THE WONDERS OF VEGETATION. 2P,1 



of magic. The Rose of Jericho is not a rose, but has 

 been placed by Linnaeus in- the first order Siliculosa. 

 Its earliest mention, perhaps, is in Jesus Sirach, ch. 

 xxiv., and ever since it has been connected in popular 

 superstition with the Holy Land and the life of our 

 Saviour. It grows in the sandy regions of Arabia, 

 Egypt and Syria. The stem divides at the base and 

 bears spikes of pretty white flowers, which change 

 into round fruits ; when the latter are ripe, the leaves 

 fall, the branches grow hard and dry, ^nd fold inward 

 so as to form a kind of ball. In autumn it is uprooted 

 by the storms and carried towards the sea ; there it 

 is gathered and exported to Europe, where it is highly 

 prized on account of its hygrometric qualities. All 

 that is necessary is to place the end of its root into 

 water, and soon the plant is seen to begin a new life, 

 to develop its parts, and to unfold new roses before 

 the eye of the enraptured observer. When the wa- 

 ter is removed, the spectator sees the magical plant* 

 grow weak, close up its petals, and the leaves pass 

 through the last agonies of vegetable life and die. 

 In certain countries it is still believed that this mar- 

 vellous rose blooms every year on the day and at the 

 hour of the birth of our Saviour ; while pious pilgrims 

 to this day report finding it at every spot where 

 Mary and Joseph rested on their flight into Egypt. 



The natives of Mexico attached the same marvel- 

 lous qualities to their Resurrection Plant, which is 

 also found in California, on the Pacific coast. It has 

 a more remarkable recuperative power than'any other 

 variety, and after drifting about for months, 



