Africa · Zimbabwe General Public 5 September 2026

Mufandichimuka translates roughly as 'it dies and rises again'. The resurrection plant grows on rocky outcrops across Zimbabwe, including the Matopos, and can lose almost all its cellular water, appearing entirely dead for months, before rehydrating and turning green within hours of rainfall. This capacity depends on trehalose, a sugar that stabilises cell membranes and proteins during drying, together with high concentrations of polyphenols including 3,4,5-tri-O-galloylquinic acid that protect against oxidative damage. Traditionally the dried leaves are infused as a tea for chest pain, asthma, kidney complaints, backache and menstrual pain. The plant carries considerable symbolic weight because of its apparent return from death, and it features in ritual as well as medicinal contexts. Modern interest has focused on its antioxidant profile and on trehalose itself, which has applications in preserving biological material. Extracts have attracted cosmetic industry attention for anti-ageing formulations. The plant is slow-growing and restricted to specific rocky habitats, which makes it vulnerable to overharvesting. Sustainable collection means taking leaves rather than uprooting whole plants, a distinction that matters considerably for a species that may take years to re-establish.

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