﻿IOO FIELD AND FOREST. 



its relation to moisture and dryness. Being a native likewise of Texas, 

 New Mexico, Arizona and California, it is often several months de- 

 prived of moisture, causing it to shrivel and curl up into a brown dry- 

 ball, but when moistened with water for a short time, it is apparently- 

 restored to life and expands itself, displaying layers of slender fronds 

 of a fine green color, radiating from a common center. It is a crvp- 

 togamous plant belonging to the order Lyc3podiacese, and may be 

 found in botanical catalogues of the southwestern United States, 

 under the name of Selaginella lepidophylla. Its organization places it 

 low down in the vegetable scale somewhere between the Ferns and 

 Mosses. There are numerous species of Salaginella, and they are often 

 used for greenhouse and aquarium decoration ; they serve to cover 

 over the soil in large tubs or pots, the fronds being long hang over 

 the edges with a pleasing effect enhanced by the usually lively green 

 color. In tropical forests they form striking objects, covering decayed 

 trunks and extending their leaves for a foot or more, in moist situa- 

 tions. 



Another resurrection plant, having similar hygroscopic qualities, has 

 long been reverenced in Syria, Egypt, Arabia and other arid countries 

 beyond the Meditteranean. It is popularly known as the rose of Jer- 

 icho. It is not a rose by any means, but its botanical alliances would 

 place it with the wall flowers, candytuft, rockets, &c. It is known to 

 botanists as Anastatica hierochunta, and when Linnaeus described it he 

 placed it in his class Siliatlosa, and it therefore belongs to the order 

 Cruciferse of the natural system. It has been known in Western Eu- 

 rope for two hundred years. It recovers its natural form by immer- 

 sion in water, after being dry for a long period. It is said to be only 

 necessary to place the root in a glass of water, which is rapidly im- 

 bibed ; it begins apparently a new life, expands in all its parts and 

 unfolds unseen flowers to the beholder. Such a plant offers tempting 

 opportunities to the charlatans of the East to impose on popular cre- 

 dulity. M. Fulgence Marion describing it says, " the buds swell with 

 new life, the leaves of the calyx open, the petals unfold, the flower 

 stalk grows upright, and the full blown flowers appear before us like 

 magic." 



With strong religious superstition the Orientals attribute a great 

 sanctity and power of prophecy to this plant. It is believed to come 

 into bloom every year on the day and hour of the birth of the Saviour ; 



