an Asiatic plant (Anastatica hierochuntica) of the crucifer family, with oval leaves and spikes of small, white flowers: it curls up tightly when dry and expands again when moistened
See rose of Jericho in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
Either of two desert plants, Anastatica hierochuntica of the mustard family, native to northern Africa and southwest Asia, or Selaginella lepidophylla, a fern ally distributed from Texas and Arizona south to El Salvador. Each plant forms a tight ball when dry and unfolds and grows under moist conditions. Also called resurrection plant.