Resurrection Plant (Selaginella lepidophylla)

One of the miracles of the plant kingdom, the Resurrection Plant changes from a dried-up brown ball to a green fern in just a few short hours once it’s placed in water. This primitive plant is a desert inhabitant found from TX to El Salvador. In its natural environment, the plant can remain in the dormant brown-ball state for years. After a rain, the Resurrection Plant unfolds into a rosette of green stems up to one foot across. If kept watered, it continues to grow. When water is removed, it returns to its dormant state. This cycle can be repeated for many years. The Resurrection Plant makes a great science project for kids or an interesting, unusual gift. One dormant plant.