Flower Cells

Dr. Rina Kamenetsky a researcher at Israel's Volcani Institute, discovered that the Nurit flower bulb cells look under a microscope as a Star of David. The Nurit is a 'resurrection plant' – it can live without water until water comes.  It has a unique mechanism for resisting drought and heat. The cell walls of the roots serve as a shield: when the first rain comes, they block the water to prevent the cells from bursting, but they protect the cells from dehydrating by absorbing some water. The most common wild type Nurit has a red flower with a black center. In summer, its roots are exposed to the heat of the desert. The cultivated Nurit has a variety of colors.