14 FREAKS OF PLANT LIFE. 



the United States Consul, related to Moyobamba in 

 Northern Peru, where " the tree is stated to absorb 

 and condense the humidity of the atmosphere with 

 astonishing energy, and it is said that the water may 

 frequently be seen to ooze from the trunk, and fall in 

 rain from its branches, in such quantity that the 

 ground beneath is converted into a perfect swamp. 

 The tree is said to possess this property in the highest 

 degree during the summer season principally, when 

 the rivers are low, and water is scarce, whence it was 

 suggested that the tree should be planted in the 

 arid regions of Peru, for the benefit of the farmers 

 there." 



Thus much for the story, as it obtained currency, 

 which requires some modification in face of the facts. 

 The whole subject was investigated, and narrated by 

 Mr. W. T. Thistelton Dyer, in the year 1878. 1 From 

 this we glean the following facts : — The scientific name 

 of the " Rain-tree " was determined as Pithecolobium 

 saman. The Director of the Botanic Gardens at 

 ' Caracas states 3 : " In the month of April the young 

 leaves are still delicate and transparent. During the 

 whole day a fine spray of rain is to be noticed under 

 the tree, even in the driest air, so that the strongly 



1 " Nature," February 28 (1878), pp. 349, 350. 



2 Professor Ernst in " Botanische Zeitung " (1876), pp. 35, 36. 



