Summary
Drought tolerance limits are given for 36 new ‘resurrection plants’, sufficient to double the number of desiccation tolerant plants reported from southern Africa. Tolerance limits for angiosperm examples are usually better than those for ferns. Air-dry foliage survives for 1/2 to 5 years or more, unless stored in humidities above 50% RHFootnote 1. Dehydration is sufficiently slow (usually 2–3 days) to allow the possibility of a tolerance induction process, like that found in Borya nitida. Rehydration after rain is usually complete in 1/2 to 1 day. A significant proportion of rain is absorbed through the leaf surface, but there is no evidence of appreciable rehydration from dew.
Resurrection plants are usually pioneers in xeroseres, but they often lack xeromorphic characteristics. Anthocyanin pigmentation during drying is a reliable indicator of viability in some species.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Abbreviation: RH = relative humidity
References
Arcichovskij, V., Arcichovskaja, N.: Untersuchungen über die Saugkraft der Pflanzen. II. Die gravimetrische Methode der Saugkraftmessungen an den Blättern. Planta (Berl.) 14, 528–532 (1931)
Ayensu, E.S.: Biological and morphological aspects of the Velloziaceae. Biotropica 5(3), 135–149 (1973)
Barrs, H.D.: Determination of water deficits in plant tissues. In: Water deficits and plant growth (T.T. Kozlowski, ed.). New York: Academic press 1968
Boss, G.: Die Brauchbarkeit des Piche-Evaporimeters bei Verdunstungsmessungen. Ber. Deut. Wetterdienst, i. d. US-Zone 5(35), 194–202 (1952)
Child, G.F.: Brief notes on the ecology of the resurrection plant (Myrothamnus flabellifolia) with mention of its water absorbing abilities. J. S. Afr. Bot. 26, 1–8 (1960)
Dinter, K.: Pflanzenarten aus Deutsch-Südwestafrika. XLIII. Fedde Repert. 16, 239–361 (1919–1920)
Gaff, D.F.: The desiccation tolerant higher plants of Southern Africa. Science 174, 1033–1034 (1971)
Gaff, D.F.: The drought resistance of Welwitschia mirabilis. Dinteria 7, 3–8 (1972)
Gaff, D.F., Churchill, D.M.: Borya nitida Labill. — an Australian species in the Liliaceae with desiccation-tolerant leaves. Aust. J. Bot. 24, 209–224 (1976)
Gaff, D.F., Ellis, R.P.: Southern African grasses with foliage that revives after dehydration. Bothalia 11, 305–308 (1974)
gaff, D.F., Hallam, N.D.: Resurrecting desiccated plants. Roy. Soc. N.Z. Bulletin 12, 389–393 (1974)
Gaff, D.F., Okong'o-Ogola, O.: The use of non-permeating pigments for testing the survival of cells. J. Exp. Bot. 22, 756–758 (1971)
Gaff, D.F., Zee, S.-Y., O'Brien, T.P.: The fine structure of dehydrated and reviving leaves of Borya nitida Labill. — a desiccation-tolerant plant. Aust. J. Bot. 24, 225–236 (1976)
Gallace, A.: The fine structure and physiology of drought tolerant plants. B. Sc. Hons. Thesis, Botany Department, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia (1974)
Hambler, D.J.: A poikilohydrous, poikilochlorophyllous angiosperm from Africa. Nature 191, 1415–1416 (1961)
Heil, H.: Chamaegigas intrepidus Dtr., eine neue Auferstehungspflanze. Beih. Bot. Zbl. 41, 41–50 (1924)
Hickel, B.: Zur Kenntnis einer xerophilen Wasserpflanze: Chamaegigas intrepidus Dtr. aus Südwestafrika. Int. Rev. ges. Hydrobiol. 52, 361–400 (1967)
Hoffmann, P.: Der Chloroplast — eine biochemische und funktionelle Einheit. Studia Biophys. 5, 149–156 (1967)
Hoffmann, P.: Pigmentgehalt und Gaswechsel von Myrothamnus-Blättern nach Austrockung und Wiederaufsättigung. Photosynthetica 2(4), 245–252 (1968)
Hornby, H.E., Hornby, R.M.: The reaction of Craterostigma plantagineum Hochst. to desiccation. Kirkia 4, 217–220 (1964)
Joubert, A.J.: An anatomical and physiological study of Myrothamnus flabellifolia (Welw.). B. Sc. Hons. thesis, Botany Department, Univ. Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (1961)
Killian, C.: Mesures écologiques sur des végétaux types du Fouta-Djallon (Guinée-Française) et sur leur milieu, en saison sèche. Bull. Instit. Franc. D'Afrique Noire 13, 603–681 (1951)
Koga, S., Echigo, A., Nunomura, K.: Physical properties of cell water in partially dried Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biophys. J. 6, 665–674 (1966)
Kreeb, K., Önal, M.: Über die gravimetrische Methode zur Bestimmung der Saugspannung und das Problem des negativen Turgors. II. Die Berücksichtigung von Atmungsverlusten während der Messungen. Planta (Berl.) 56, 409–416 (1961)
Levitt, J., Sullivan, C.Y., Krull, E.: Some problems in drought resistance. Bull. Res. Counc. Isr. 8D, 177–179 (1960)
Loomis, W.E., Shull, C.A.: Methods in plant physiology. New York: McGraw Hill 1937
Marloth, R.: The flora of South Africa, Vol. II. Capetown: Darter; London: Wheldon and Wesley 1925
Oppenheimer, H.R., Halevy, A.H.: Anabiosis of Ceterach officinarum Lam. et DC. Bull. Res. Counc. Isr. 11D, 127–147 (1962)
Paech, K., Tracey, M.V.: Modern methods of plant analysis, Vol. I. Berlin-Göttingen-Heidelberg: Springer 1955
Pessin, L.J.: A physiological and anatomical study of the leaves of Polypodium polypodioides. Am. J. Bot. 11, 370–381 (1924)
Robinson, R.A.E., Stokes, R.H.: Electrolyte Solutions. London: Butterworths 1955
Slatyer, R.O.: Measurement of DPD in plants by a method of vapour equilibration. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 11, 349–365 (1958)
Stuart, T.S.: Revival of respiration and photosynthesis in dried leaves of Polypodium polypodioides. Planta 83, 185–206 (1968)
Sullivan, C.Y., Levitt, J.: Drought tolerance and avoidance in two species of oak. Physiol. Plant. 12, 299–305 (1959)
Thoday, D.: On the behaviour of two cape species of Passerina, with notes on their anatomy. Ann. Bot. 35, 585–601 (1921)
Vieweg, G.H., Ziegler, H.: Zur Physiologie von Myrothamnus flabellifolia. Ber. Deut. Bot. Ges. 82, 29–36 (1969)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gaff, D.F. Desiccation tolerant vascular plants of southern Africa. Oecologia 31, 95–109 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348713
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00348713