RAIN TREES OF RHODESIA.
Hove you ever heard of rain-trees': They gio/.v in Khodcsia and are one of the , natural phenomena of South Africa, 't he lain trees /are. particularly wonderful because they " rain " in a season when all the coiiulry is hot and dry. After seven months of dryness every tree hursts into bcau.tifully-secnted blossom, followed by magnificent pale-green foliage. Usually the tree is very tall, with smooth grey bark' and dark-green leaves and 'native blossoms something like lilac. Near Bul.wuyo those trees rained so fast last. October that puddles were lying under them, while little rivulets trickled down the bark making a green patch under each tree. The liquid is clear and as tasteless as water. The solution of the mystery of tho Tabling ele.ta-tnusi is that myriads of small beetles feed 'on the tree and while doing have the power of absorbing moisture from the, air. The moisture oozes from f 1 heir bodies so quickly that the minute ; MrtiCies join together and run down the >•£"*» ? r collect until they fall i.u drops fjom tho twigs like rain.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)
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181RAIN TREES OF RHODESIA. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)
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