If you look up into the sprawling limbs of the big oaks in north Florida you will see something that looks like dried up ferns. And in fact, that’s what they are. But these are not regular ferns, these are resurrection ferns.
It’s an epiphytic plant, one that attaches to another plant and takes its nutrients directly from the air and any rain that falls on it. You can find this fern as far north as Delaware and as far west as Texas.
What is amazing about them is that when there is no rain, instead of dying like most plants do they just curl up and wait. They turn brown and roll their fronds ups looking as if they have lost the battle. But give them rain, just a little bit, and they uncurl and turn vibrant green again.
Most plants die when they lose between 8 and 12% of their water. The resurrection fern can lose 97% of its water and survive. It is said, though who knows if it’s true, that the resurrection fern can go 100 years without water and spring back to life after one brief shower.
Remember, when life puts you through a hard dry period that everything special about you is still there, just under the surface. All you need is a little rain and you will unfurl and stand tall in the wind again.
Photo by guest blogger Sue Harrison