anastatica

noun

Meaning

A genus of desert plants in the mustard family, most notably the resurrection plant that survives extreme drought by curling up and dispersing seeds only when wetted.

Examples

  • The anastatica is often called the resurrection plant because of its ability to revive after long periods of dormancy.
  • Botanists study the anastatica to understand how its seeds are released only during rainfall.

Synonyms: resurrection plant, rose of Jericho, desert plant, xerophyte