The Collaborative International Dictionary
Self-heal
Self-heal \Self`-heal"\, n. (Bot.) A blue-flowered labiate plant ( Brunella vulgaris); the healall.
WordNet
self-heal
n. decumbent blue-flowered European perennial thought to possess healing properties; naturalized throughout North America [syn: heal all, Prunella vulgaris]
Usage examples of "self-heal".
Perhaps they alter to their translucent and less useful state because, while on a living member of your species, they are less stable-having to self-heal as it were.