Selaginella bryopteris (L.) Bak is a resurrection plant. Uniquely, its detached fronds have the ability to survive desiccation similar to that of the whole plant. In order to understand the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance, proteome studies were carried out in this plant using detached fronds to reveal proteins that were differentially expressed in response to dehydration and rehydration. There was not much difference in electrolyte leakage between control, dehydrated and rehydrated fronds. During dehydration the plants showed only respiration and a dr op in F v /F m values. Both fluorescence and photosynthesis regained totally after rehydration. About 250 protein spots were reproducibly detected and analyzed. From the putatively identified spots (proteins), it was observed that proteins involved in transport, targeting and degradation were expressed more in the desiccated fronds. These findings tentatively indicate that some of the proteins could contribute a physiological advantage to S. bryopteris under desiccation.