rose of Jericho
- noun
- /roʊz əv ˈdʒɛrɪkoʊ/
- Literature
:
rosa de Jericó
- Scientists study the rose of Jericho to understand how it survives extreme dehydration.
Examples
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The rose of Jericho is often called the resurrection plant.
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The rose of Jericho is often called the 'resurrection plant' because it appears to come back to life when watered.
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After months of drought, the rose of Jericho unfurled its green fronds as soon as it rained.
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Have you ever seen a rose of Jericho bloom?
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The rose of Jericho will curl tightly when the soil dries out and unfold again when watered.
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People often keep the rose of Jericho as a symbol of renewal and hope.
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In dry conditions, the rose of Jericho appears lifeless, but it springs back to life with moisture.
Synonyms
A small grey desert plant that curls up when dry and opens when wet
A small desert plant that looks dead when dry but turns green when it gets water
A plant that can dry up and come back to life when watered
A small plant that curls into a dry ball with no water and opens when it gets wet
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase clearly names a plant ('rose') associated with a place ('Jericho'), so a B1 learner who knows the words will likely infer it is a type of plant linked to Jericho. However, the distinctive botanical sense — a desert 'resurrection' plant that curls into a ball and unfolds with moisture — is not predictable from the constituents alone and requires prior/cultural or encyclopedic knowledge.
Etymology
Rose of Jericho is named for the plant's strange habit: when it dries it curls into a tight brown ball and, when watered, it opens and turns green again, so people thought a rose from old Jericho 'came back to life'. That's why it is often called the 'resurrection plant'.
