ROSE OF JERICHO

It is native to the deserts of Arabia, the Sahara and the vicinity of the Red Sea, and is also present in Palestine and Egypt.1 It does not grow natively in the city of Jericho.

Since ancient times, it has been used as a weather forecaster, since, as a hygrometer, the wise man or shaman could accurately predict the weather. In dry weather, the plant remains completely closed; in wet weather, it opens slowly; if rain threatens, it opens very showily and with varying speed depending on the proximity of the cloud discharge.

History tells that merchants in this city used to bring them from Arabia as precious talismans to bless their homes and businesses.