Rose of Jericho

My flatmate Tigresa has been called Rose of Jericho by one of her admirers. I have no idea why, but the funny thing about it is that my department at the office is also unofficially known by this name.

The Rose of Jericho is the common name for two plants belonging to different families in the plant kingdom:

• One, an annual desert plant (Anastatica hierochuntica) of the family Cruciferae (mustard family), is native to Asia Minor. It is a resurrection plant. The branches curl into a ball at maturity, after which the plant, in its native habitat, is blown about by the wind and the seeds are dispersed.
• The other, Odontospermum pygmaeum, is native to the same region and also called rose of Jericho because of its similar properties. It is a member of the family Asteraceae (aster family).

My department is called Rose of Jericho, because it shows a similar behaviour as a resurrection plant.

Resurrection plants grow in arid regions. They may apparently be brought back to life after they are dead. In reality they have hygroscopic qualities which cause them to curl up when dry and to unfold when moist. They are frequently sold in the dried condition as a novelty.

Our department has been announced dead several times. Employees have been made redundant, but somehow it always managed to survived by acquiring just enough contracts that it would have been to much trouble to close it down for good. So far we have not been sold as a novelty either. Touch wood.

However, that does still not explain, why Tigresa is supposed to be a Rose of Jericho.