a rose by any other name smells just as sweet?

IMGP3638, originally uploaded by smoooch.

A native of Texas, Arizona and other hot dry climates, the Rose of Jericho or Ressurection Plant, was an easy souvenir from my recent stay in Texas due to its unique and seemingly magical qualities.

The image at the top is how I bought the plant. It will apparently stay rolled up in this ball for years and years and years. It will literally stay that way until you put it in a bowl of shallow water where it will unfurl itself, turn green and sprout small white flowers. The picture below is from 1 day in a bowl of water.

Magically, if you remove the plant from water it will dry out and roll itself back into a ball to be stored again until you put it back in water. In a sense, it is the plant that never dies. Naturally, when I received my declaration card for customs, where it asks you if you are bringing back any plants or fruits and vegetables, I said no in fear that they would take this little gem away.

open, originally uploaded by smoooch.

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