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Glite Dictionary
Anastatica hierochuntica

Anastatica hierochuntica

9.9
A small grey desert plant that curls up when dry and opens when wet
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Anastatica hierochuntica
  • When watered after a long dry period, Anastatica hierochuntica quickly unfolds its branches and resumes growth.

Examples

  • Anastatica hierochuntica can survive in arid conditions by curling up when dry and reopening when it receives water.

  • Anastatica hierochuntica is often called the Rose of Jericho due to its extraordinary ability to survive drought.

  • Desert travelers once carried Anastatica hierochuntica as a symbol of hope and renewal.

  • The Anastatica hierochuntica is often called the Rose of Jericho.

  • Have you ever seen an Anastatica hierochuntica in the wild?

  • Many people believe that Anastatica hierochuntica symbolizes resilience because it thrives even in harsh environments.

  • In the desert, Anastatica hierochuntica is a remarkable plant known for its unique ability to revive after rainfall.

Synonyms

rose of Jericho
vsAnastatica hierochuntica
  • Literature
9.8

A desert plant that curls into a ball when dry and opens when wet

is the botanical term for the same plant rather than the common name
resurrection plant
vsAnastatica hierochuntica
8.3

A small desert plant that looks dead when dry but turns green when it gets water

focuses on curling shut when dry rather than just appearing dead

Surface Forms

Anastatica hierochuntica singular
Anastatica hierochunticas plural

Morphology

Anastatica + hierochuntica

This is a scientific Latin binomial (a proper name) whose meaning (‘Rose of Jericho’, a desert plant) is not compositional for a B1 learner: the parts are not common English words conveying the referent and one constituent is not even a dictionary word. Botanical Latin functions as an arbitrary label rather than a transparent phrase, so knowing the parts would not let a learner deduce the plant meaning.

Etymology

Anastatica hierochuntica is a small desert plant that curls into a tight grey ball when dry and then opens quickly when it touches water. People called it the 'Rose of Jericho' and carried it as a sign of 'hope' and 'new life', because the plant seems to 'come back to life' after rain, which is why it means 'renewal' today.