Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1884 — The African Grapple-Plant. [ARTICLE]

The African Grapple-Plant.

In the southern parts of Africa, there is a curious plant known by the name of hook-thorn, or grapple-plant, which is said to bear some resemblance to the cuttle-fish. The large flowers of this truly horrible plant are a lovely purple hue. They spread themselves over the ground, or hang in masses from the trees and shrubs. The long benches have sharp, barbed thorns, set in pairs throughout their length. When the petals fall, and the seed-vessels are developed and fully ripe, the two sides separate widely from each other, and form an array of sharp, curved hooks. Woe be to the traveler who ventures near at such a time! The English soldiers in the last Kaffir wars ‘ suffered teiribly from this plant. While the Kaffir, unclothed and oily, escaped harmless, the Europeans was certain to be made and held prisoner. Imagine one hooked thorn catching a coat sleeve. The first movement at escape bends the long,, slender branches, and hook after hook fixes its point into the clothing. Struggling on trebles the number of thorned enemies, and there is no way of escape except tostnnd still, cut off the clinging seed-vessels, andremove them one by one.