Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1887 — The Holy Ghost Flower. [ARTICLE]

The Holy Ghost Flower.

The Botahical Garden in Washington is possessed of a rare curiosity in the flower kingdom. It is a Holy Ghost or Dove flower in bloom. This curiosity is from Panama, and bl-aiJis annually. The plant grows from a bulb about the size of one’s hand, and springs up in a single stalk, which is the size of a pipestem, and resembles in color and general appearance a rush, and is about three and one-half feet liiglL At the top of the stalk,-and for a space of probably six inches along its sides near the top the flowers are located. They are about two arid one-half inches in circumference, white as snow, appearing rather like white -wax or marble, and of the shape of a cup, with the mouth inclined outwardly. At the bottom of this cup-shaped blossom is the most lovely specimen of nature’s art. It is the dove, which occupies a sitting posture, with wings extending upward, and exhibiting the first half of the dove. - In front of the dove is an altar slightly sprinkled with diminutive dots of maroon coloring, and this is the only color about the bloom. At the base of the stalk are three shoots, or long leaves, like the shoots to new corn. There are twenty-five of the cups on the stem, and the fragrance is very delicate and sweet. It is a great curiosity, and is attracting a large number of visitors. The dove specimen is kept in the greenhouses where the air plants are, which are nothing less than blocks of wood, kept in temperature so hot and damp they are forced to grow and bloom, and these alone are worth seeing.— Wasskinaton Herald.