Rose of Jericho

Rose of Jericho (Anastatica hierochuntica), a plant of the natural order Cruciferae, which grows in the sandy deserts of Arabia, and on rubbish, the roofs of houses, and other such situations in Syria and other parts of the East. It is a small, bushy, herbaceous plant, seldom more than six inches high, with small white flowers; and after it has flowered, the leaves fall off, and the branches become incurved towards the centre, so that the plant assumes an almost globular form, and in this state it is often blown about by the wind in the desert. When it happens to be blown into water the branches expand again, and the pods open and let out the seeds. Numerous superstitions are connected with this plant, which is called Rosa Marie, or Rose of the Virgin. If taken up before it is quite withered the plant retains for years its hygrometric property of contracting in drought and expanding in moisture.