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T^e t^e^urrection ]®1ant. 
Among the many curious 
and wonderful productions of 
the vegetable world few excite 
more interest than the .Resur¬ 
rection Plant, or Moss (Sela- 
ginella lepidophylla) of Mex¬ 
ico. Its native haunts are the 
arid mountain sides, and dur¬ 
ing dry weather the plants 
present the appearance of a 
lifeless, tightly rolled up hall; 
hut as soon as the rain begins 
to fall, and the earth about the 
roots becomes saturated with 
moisture, the ball begins to 
rapidly unfold and is soon 
spread out into a mat, or 
rosette, of beautiful green 
fronds, and remains so until the ground begins to dry, then it slowly 
rolls up and calmly sleeps until the next rainfall. But the most wonder¬ 
ful thing about this curious plant is that it may be dug up and kept 
dry, like a ball of yarn, for years, and whenever it is placed in a vase or 
saucer of ivater it will in a few moments unfold its beautiful green interior 
to view. Taken out of the water it will roll up again, to all appearances 
perfectly dead, and may be put away for any length of time until it is 
wished to repeat the experiment. 
