# resurrection fern (*Pleopeltis michauxiana*) The resurrection fern is a special plant that can dry up and look dead, but when it gets water, it comes back to life! It loves to grow on tree trunks and rocks in warm places. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 25 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Resurrection Plant ![resurrection fern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pleopeltis_michauxiana.jpg&width=800) Photo: cassi saari, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pleopeltis_michauxiana.jpg) ## Appearance The resurrection fern has small, leathery fronds that appear curled and greyish-brown when dry. When it rains, these fronds quickly unfurl, transforming into a vibrant, deep green. Its unique ability to seemingly 'come back to life' makes it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Polypodiopsida - **Order:** Polypodiales - **Family:** Polypodiaceae - **Genus:** Pleopeltis ## Interesting facts - It can sometimes grow on power lines or even old tires if conditions are right! - It can stay brown and dry for over 100 years and still turn green again! - The resurrection fern uses tiny spores instead of seeds to make new ferns. Spore-tastic! - This amazing fern doesn't need soil! It grows directly on trees and sometimes rocks. ## Special abilities - **Drought Survivor:** Resurrection fern can shrivel and lose 75% of its water, a real adaptation that helps it survive long periods without rain. - **Water Awakener:** Resurrection fern has special cells that allow it to quickly absorb water, helping it rehydrate and revive after drought. - **Tree Hugger:** Resurrection fern can grow on trees, a real adaptation that helps it reach sunlight and avoid ground competition. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-40 cm - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Southern live oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-live-oak) (*Quercus virginiana*) — Its bark provides a safe, elevated place for the fern to grow. - **Eaten by:** Grove snail (*Cepaea nemoralis*) — Snails sometimes munch on its fronds when they are rehydrated. - **Symbiotic with:** [Cypress-leaved plait-moss](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cypress-leaved-plait-moss) (*Hypnum cupressiforme*) — Often shares tree bark with other mosses, creating mini-ecosystems. ## Traits - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants in the wild, as some can be prickly or cause allergies. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify resurrection fern? Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is resurrection fern? 10-30 cm ### How wide does resurrection fern spread? 15-40 cm ### Is resurrection fern edible? No ### Is resurrection fern toxic? None ### What is resurrection fern's lifecycle? Perennial ### Where is resurrection fern usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Bok Tower Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bok-tower-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadmoor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadmoor) — Louisiana, US · Neighborhood - [Bullock County Courthouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bullock-county-courthouse-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Convent and Academy of the Visitation](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/convent-and-academy-of-the-visitation) — Alabama, US · Campus - [Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/corkscrew-swamp-sanctuary) — Florida, US · Nature Reserve - [Foley Downtown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/foley-downtown-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see resurrection fern](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/resurrection-fern) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Resurrection Fern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/resurrection-fern)