What fern only looks like it's dead?
By Chelsie Vandaveer
August 9, 2001
Killer Savings: Spring Hill Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Henry Fields Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Gurney's Seed and Nursery -$20 off—>Click here.
Gardens Alive! -$20 Free—>Click here.
Breck's Bulbs -$25 off—>Click herel
Michigan Bulb -$20 off—>Click here.
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading—>Click here.
Killer Picks: Unique Gardens, Ferns, Astilbe, Bleeding Heart, & more—>Click here.
The resurrection fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) [plee o pel' tis pol ee po de' oy des] is a curious epiphyte, growing on the bark of live oaks in the southeastern U.S. With no soil to hold moisture around its roots, the resurrection fern has had to develop a unique way of surviving when rain is scarce. It goes dormant, but in an unusual way. It does not shed its leaves like most plants. Rather, its leaves curl and dry, but remain attached to the plant.
With the first rains in late spring, the leaves expand and the fern resumes growing.
Because this fern is epiphytic, it also does not have a ready source of nutrients. If it dropped its leaves with every dry spell, it would be expending all its energy replacing those leaves when the rains returned. But by holding onto the leaves, this fern can resume photosynthesizing and growing as soon as the leaves have unfurled.
Click here to view photos of this beautiful fern, both in the active and dormant stage.
killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~
Suggested Reading:
Lacy Tree Fern (Cyathea cooperi) Plant of the Week - July 17, 2006
Wart Fern (Phymatosorus scolopendria) Plant of the Week - February 13, 2006
Macho Fern (Nephrolepis biserrata) Plant of the Week - March 13, 2006
What is the mystery of mistletoe cactus? Weird Plants - March 3, 2005
What fern loves arsenic? Weird Plants - November 15, 2001
Give this fern a brake What's in a Name? - January 17, 2003
Unique Gardens
Spring Hill Nursery®
Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you.
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
[Shop Killer Cool Perennials.]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Flowering Shade Garden
Springhill Nursery®
|
|
|
Enjoy the beauty of Ferns, Hostas, and shade-loving flowers at special savings.
Includes 1 each of; Golden Tiara Hosta, Royal Standard Hosta, Green and White Hosta, White Edged Hosta, Blue Hosta, Brise d'Anjou Polemonium;
3 each of Ostrich Plume Fern, Lady Fern, Hardy Cyclamen, Pink Dwarf Bleeding Hearts and
6 Lily-of-the-Valley.
Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!
|
|
This Item Ships In The Fall
[More Garden Perennials!]
[More Gardens!]
|
| |
killerplants Recommended Seed and Nursery Stores
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 BACK TO TOP
|
|
