Rhodope Haberlea
Haberlea rhodopensis
African violet family (Gesneriaceae)
Least concern
A traveller in space
Haberlea rhodopensis is named after its native locality: the Rhodope Mountains bordering Greece and Turkey. Although it is a rock plant, it does not like dry, sunny sites but prefers a shady, humus rich soil. Haberlea is able to 'resuscitate after dehydration’. During heavy drought the leaves turn brown and curl up but after a little rain they turn bright green again. Haberlea is therefore considered to be a resurrection plant. Haberlea can survive such dehydration with the aid of special proteins and sugars that do not damage the cells. Moreover, metabolism ceases almost completely when in this parched state.
Scientists want to understand how Haberlea and similar resurrection plants are able to play this resurrection trick, so that after long space voyages such dried organisms could regenerate to their fresh state on arrival at the destination!
Themes
Crown jewel in the Utrecht Botanic Gardens.
Haberlea can survive without water for more than three years.
An extract can be prescribed as an antiageing treatment. It works as an antioxidant and increases skin elasticity and enhances skin radiance.
Details
| Description: | Herb, up to 15 cm. |
|---|---|
| Distributions: | Bulgaria and greece. |
| Habitat: | Damp shady rocky places, mainly on limestone and sometimes also on volcanic rock. |
| Year cycle: | Perennial (polycarpic evergreen) |
| Hardiness: | Colder than -4 f (very hardy) |
| Flowering period: | April - juni |
| Flower color: | White, blue, purple |