Polypodium polypodioides                                   Photo Fiona Sunquist ©

The tiny creeping Resurrection Fern is usually found covering the branches of large live oaks and cypress trees, and sometimes on rocks or on the ground in shady places. This fern is an epiphyte – sometimes called an ‘air plant’, it gets its water and nutrients from rain.

During dry weather the resurrection fern looks dead; the leaves curl and turn gray-brown, but as soon as it rains the fronds reabsorb water, unfurl and become bright green again. Thus the origin of the name resurrection fern.

This fern is sometimes sold in gift shops and as a so called "miracle plant".

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