The Rose of Jericho, the Lazarus of the plant world, held a cherished place in many Renaissance collections of wonders. When dry, it looks like tumbleweed, and rolls across the deserts of Mexico and the Middle East in much the same manner. But it is not dead. Add a small amount of water and the Rose of Jericho comes back to life, blooming bright green. Stick it in a drawer and it “dies” all over again, waiting to be resurrected at some later date, months or even years in the future. The process can be repeated over and over. In some countries, the roses are passed down from generation to generation and brought out to bloom just once a year, at Christmas.
Proceedings of the Athanasius Kircher Society :: The Resurrection Plant
