Ramonda serbica and R. nathaliae (Gesneriaceae) are endemo-relic species of the Balkan peninsula and the desiccation-tolerant homoiochlorophyllous flowering plants. In order to follow the pattern of chlorophyll metabolism during dehydration and after rewatering, the chlorophyll content was studied. Its change during the dehydration was monitored in intact plants and during the recovery in intact specimens as well as in cut off leaves. The regreening rate depended on previous hydration state of plants collected from their natural habitat. Eight to 12 h after the start of the rehydration of air-dried detached leaves the resynthesis of chlorophyll began. Rehydration and chlorophyll resynthesis were not light depended. Levulinic acid inhibited completely the chlorophyll resynthesis indicating that the regulatory site on the biosynthetic pathway was located before protoporphyrin formation. Chlorophyllase activity changed during the dehydration and rehydration, but the chlorophyll content was not in direct correlation with this enzyme activity.