What Did Moshe See?
When we think of divine miracles, we generally picture something—perhaps hoped for—yet sudden and unanticipated, but when we talk of miracles, or at least when Scripture does, we often see a natural phenomenon exaggerated beyond natural capabilities.
At Hanukkah, the light that lasted for eight days was not a luminous empty vessel but was a lamp filled with a small amount of oil whose capacity was miraculously multiplied eightfold. What is often considered the most spectacular miracle of Passover—the splitting of the sea—occurred only after a strong east wind had blown the entire night of a full moon, what those of us along the Raritan and Atlantic shores refer to as a “blow-out tide” (Exodus 14:21).
But what about the miracle that set the liberation from Egypt in motion, the appearance to Moshe, while tending the sheep of his Midianite father-in-law, of an angel in a bush that was burning but was not consumed? (Ibid. 3:2.) In the words of the New Jersey Forestry Association, “All plants are flammable!” but when they do burn, they generally burn up; the bush that Moshe saw did not. Was it simply a miracle, or is there really such a plant?
The plant that most of us know as burning bush is the deciduous Euonymus alatus, also known as spindletree or winged spindle for the four corklike ridges or “wings” that run along its trunk. A huge shrub—even the “compacta” cultivar, can grow to 15 feet by 15 feet, although there are now some dwarf cultivars on the market. Wholly indistinguished in appearance for much of the year, it earns its place in the garden through its brilliant red autumn foliage, which truly seems to be aflame.
also known as spindletree or winged spindle.
If you are thinking of adding it to your landscape, however, there are caveats: all parts of the plant are toxic to humans and animals and it is quite invasive. Attributes that would be assets in a less prolific plant, such as drought tolerance and unfussiness as to soil, add to the problems of this plant, which not only self-seeds, but spreads through underground roots, which then send up suckers.
In fact, importation and sale are prohibited in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. But could it have confronted Moses? Almost certainly not. Even if he had mistaken a bright red leaf for a flame, E. alatus is native to northern China, Korea and Japan and is considered one of the safer plants for use in fire-prone areas.
What, then, of the creosote bush? We have all heard the dire warnings of fire danger due to creosote buildup in our chimneys. Could the creosote in the bush burn while leaving the rest of the bush unharmed? Alas, this is another case of false advertising. Just as the burning bush is not burning, the creosote bush does not generate creosote—it just smells like it.
A fascinating evergreen shrub native to the American Southwest and northern Mexico, Larrea tridentata, also known as greasewood or chapparal, grows slowly over decades to a height of about 6 feet and a width of about 8 feet. Since seeds require water to germinate and seedlings require water to become established, reproductive success is low almost to the point of extinction, but the plant compensates with its extremely long life.
As it grows, branches continue to appear around the outside of the plant while the oldest branches die and the crown splits into several clones. Eventually the center rots and disappears and the crowns spread into a circle. Adding this to your landscape, however, is just not practical. The Joshua Tree “King Clone” is only 45 feet wide at over 11,000 years old.
All of which brings us to Dictamnus. Known as gas plant or dittany, it grows to 2 to 4 feet in height and sports red to pale purple to white blooms with a pleasant lemon scent from May to July in a loose pyramidal spike. Most significantly, it is native to parts of southern Europe, North Africa and parts of Asia and the Middle East, where the land of the Midianites is located, and, in hot, dry weather, yields a volatile, greasy oil that, if ignited, will burn for a few moments without harming the plant. A hardy, herbaceous perennial rather than a shrub, Dictamnus thrives in full sun, in well-drained, evenly moist, fertile soil, but can tolerate poor soils and even some shade and is hardy to Zone 3.
Although the gas plant’s cultural requirements mean that it can be successfully grown well within Monmouth and Middlesex Counties’ Zone 7 climate, it has certain drawbacks that contribute to its rarity as a cultivated plant. Its lemony aroma has caused it to be treated as a medicinal herb, yet it tastes bitter, is mildly toxic in that it can cause stomach upset and, like other members of the rue family, can cause skin irritation. It is also not for the impatient: it leafs out late in spring and can take several years to flower. Its long taproot makes it impractical to try to transplant.
If you are not discouraged by its drawbacks, however, Dictamnus can function both as a novelty and as a decorative plant in its own right. While no one can guarantee that you will hear the voice of an angel, Dictamnus can be a welcome addition to an ornamental garden.
SUE KLEINBERG is a contributing writer to Jlife Magazine.
