Loggerhead Rose of Jericho
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Loggerhead Rose of Jericho ( Selaginella lepidophylla ) |
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| ( Hook. & Grev. ) Jump |
The False rose of Jericho ( Selaginella lepidophylla ) is a plant type from the family of Clubmosses (Selaginellaceae). It occurs in the desert areas from Arizona through Texas and Mexico to El Salvador . It belongs to the poikilohydren plants (alternating moist plants, so-called "resurrection plants").
"Resurrection Plant"
The striking peculiarity of this plant is that it can do without water for very long periods (months). If there is again precipitation, it drives out again within a day. This is due to a swelling process of turgor cells within the plant (reversible hygroscopic movement). Such plants are called resurrection plants (poikilohydre plants). The plant achieves this special adaptation to very dry areas by rolling up its shoots when it is dry. In addition, it can almost completely dry out.
| Fake Rose of Jericho, doused with hot water (film: 687 photos, 1 photo per minute, 25 frames per second) |
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| Loggerhead Rose of Jericho opens. (1 hour and 30 minutes) |
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However, it usually only survives a resuscitation once, all subsequent "unfolding" are purely physical processes: The cells then still suck themselves full of water through capillary forces , and the plant unfolds under the hydrostatic tension , but without resuming assimilation .
confusion
The plant should not be confused with the Real Rose of Jericho , which is said to be mentioned in the Book of Sirach 24:18. In Christian families there is a custom of blooming the rose of Jericho on special holidays. However, this is also a purely physical effect.
For reasons of purchase and cost, Selaginella lepidophylla is often imported from Central America as deliberate plagiarism and sold as the "Rose of Jericho".
Individual evidence
- ^ Free University of Berlin Moosfarne
- ↑ Hooker & GREV. / SPRING resurrection plant, (loggerhead) rose of Jericho - Selaginella lepidophylla and moss ferns
- ^ Yearbook Bochumer Bot . Ver. 3 281-284 2012 pdf - Plant portrait Selaginella lepidophylla by A. Sarazin
- ↑ Botanical Garden Wilhelmshaven information sheet Jerichorose.pdf
