Found in the sahara near Zagora while on vacation once placed in water opens up into a rose
This day felt a lot like "Saudi Arabia" to me -- my sister, niece, and I went to Judah's Thumb. Incredible area -- such cool organisms!!!
https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sambiology/90830-trip-to-middle-east-wow
A fellow hiker found an uprooted plant, placed it in water for a few hours at home, and it opened up, as described in Wildflowers of the UAE
True Rose of Jericho
(plant collected from interior sindh don't know the exact place)This is the broken piece.It is used whenever a baby is born, it's branches are all closed like a claw but as it is put in water it's branches spread and make this beautiful structure(a kind of tumble weed).locally called "Meryam Panja" and is used for the traditional and medicinal purposes.
Det. Dror Hawlena (Hebrew University)