Queen Thula of Mars is in the desert talking with Spurs Jackson, Strong Bow, and Rapid Fox. They are discussing the petrified logs of wood. Strong Bow doesn't believe wood ever grew in the desert. Thula gives him a thuvia flower and says it will grow in the desert. After Spurs takes Thula back to Mars in his rocket, Strong Bow tosses the flower away. It instantly sprouts into tall thuvia tree with flowers and branches.