Definition

Noun: - A species of desert plant in the spike moss family (Selaginellaceae), native to arid regions of the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central America to Peru. It is a resurrection plant, famous for its ability to survive extreme desiccation by curling into a tight, ball-like shape when dry and reopening to resume growth when moisture is available.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • The Selaginella lepidophylla is a remarkable example of a plant adapted to survive in harsh desert environments.
  • In the dry season, the Selaginella lepidophylla appears as a brown, seemingly dead ball of foliage.

Advanced Usage and Context

• Botanical Context: The term is used in scientific, botanical, and horticultural contexts to describe this specific species. It is often discussed in relation to plant physiology, adaptation, and drought tolerance.
• Common Names: In advanced or general usage, it is frequently referred to by its common names, such as "rose of Jericho," "resurrection plant," or "dinosaur plant," though these names can sometimes refer to other similar species.

Variants and Related Words

• Selaginella: The genus to which this plant belongs, containing many other species of spike mosses.
• Lycopodiophyte: The broader plant division (clubmosses and allies) that includes the genus .
• Resurrection plant: A descriptive common name highlighting its ability to "come back to life" from a dried state.

Synonyms

• Rose of Jericho (Note: This common name is also used for , a different species with similar adaptive traits).
• Resurrection plant.
• Dinosaur plant.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To pull a Selaginella: (An extremely rare, non-standard idiomatic construction) Used humorously or metaphorically to describe someone or something that recovers remarkably from a seemingly hopeless or "dried-up" state.
  • After that terrible quarter, the company really pulled a Selaginella and bounced back with record profits.

Noun

1. densely tufted fern ally of southwestern United States to Peru; curls up in a tight ball when dry and expands and grows under moist conditions