SMOKE-TREES

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 303, 14 March 1928, Page 6

SMOKE-TREES

In the Great American I'evsert w interesting valleys of the the Chuckwalla grows a strmng* green tree. At a distance. *fr c^ appear like rolling wisps of rising from the camp-fire. mu** 1 known to the desert men and < *** Indians as “smoke-trees.” ° Other trees of the desert are , esting. The mesquite, whisfe Ult * rfood, shade, and fire-wood to the dweller, the palo verde. which times grows to a height of the ironwood. which is the onl T **' fledged tree of the desert all for their share of notice and tion in an almost treeless expa the fact that a tree should appearance of a whiff of smoked almost unbelievable, and is one i secrets which Nature refuses % Perhaps an ancient CoahuiUa could give a logical myth smoke-tree which might sail-.*' poets mind, but the * to wonder at this strang™nhe^ nt “" te The smoke-tree should a shrub on account of its ] ** for it seldom grows tafi!r °£L Ststu * 13ft; but here and there a s 1} «e trunk of light green gleams fortl,®’'" rising proudly above the dT>h / h ’ <“>« takes on the appearance of a Only in certain localities *'*'■ unique tree seem to flour.sh m always found growing i„ thertlV; of some ancient stream “W interesting sight to see along J? ** mg row of cloud-like trees, g?,'a desert wash, following 5n ® course, like a column of old eoirtw weaned from a long march The main roots go down to a depth in search of water Th. Br * a: is told of a naturalist who smoke-tree to transplant in his w* garden and hired a desert Indi. ‘ dig it up and preserve the !f 0 tact - The Indian, stolid and®£ : had gone down a distance of ] £ !'; had not reached the end of when the naturalist ordered him"* 1 cease work. A tree so tenacious m the arid desert sending its r£f,” such a distance for water des£v!T, live in the spot of its own choosiij In early summer, especially alter sudden torrential downpour of „ = the smoke-trees are covered wits cloud of beautiful pea-like blofsom,.; a dainty blue, the shade of 1.. lazuli. Nectar-loving insec.s occasionaHy little whirring hummij birds, fly many miles over the JSL to enjoy the flowers. ewr - The blossoming period does not k„ long. The warm, relentless winds off the cheerful blooms in aSj heap at the base of the tree. whersVh, pitiless desert sun hastens the wrh». ing and drying until only a nil. brownish dry flowerets remain The old name of this unique a**., shrub was Dalea spinosa. but it isTTs known as Parosela spinosa Aim, ently desiring to be nothing but I smoke-tree it continues to flouriw flaunting its glorious blossoms in and bowing its spiny, tangled branch,, before the desert winds.