#pleopeltis polypodioides

[faguscarolinensis]

Pleopeltis polypodioides / Resurrection Fern at the North Carolina Botanical Gardens at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC

[cedar-glade]

Epiphytic Ferns in The Temperate Eastern USA.

Polypodium virginianum, In our region of the United States (NorthEast) this fern seems to be one of the only true epiphytic members that we get to enjoy, and even then it feels like a rarity. P. virginianum is definitely rarely seen growing on trees and is more associated with the classic rock capping habit that it was called "rock polypody fern" for. Good thing for humidity ducts in the Red River Gorge exist and make a perfect habitat for certain things to occur. 

Rock Cap on rock substrate.

Rock Cap growing on a vertical wood surface in a humid valley.

The other classic common epiphytic fern associated with the temperate east coast is limited to a southern range and has a very unique mechanism of survival that allows it to go very long periods without water ,or at least long periods for a fern, called Pleopeltis polypodioides. Most people know of P. polypodioides as "resurrection fern" because of it's appearance of almost looking dead before a rainfall. 

Resurrection fern turgid in early June in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Resurrection fern looking dead two weeks into June in the Blue Ridge Mountains. 

Resurrection fern after a bit of much needed moisture, June in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

For more info on the seldom celebrated temperate ferns here and elsewhere, check out this link.

In short why should you be happy when you see rock cap occur along a vertical surface of wood?

  What is more common in the temperate forests of the Appalachian Mountains, as far as vascular species visibility, is the slew of terrestrial ferns and of course the lithophytic fern species, which most people associate with cliff brakes and spleenworts. What's interesting is that non tropical occurrences of epiphytic habit are rarely encountered in temperate United States. The lack of dense humidity is very limiting to ferns as they tend to require a certain amount of moisture content to function or require specific substrate qualities to thrive. The humidity overall seems to limit the ability for epiphytic habit to happen in high frequency outside of the subtropics and tropics. Yet it does happen thanks to some tough ferns such as this one below.

^Rock Polypody,  Polypodium virginianum, anchored on a sand mat/ cushion moss mat near an exposed dune area on the coast of Lake Michigan that is pretty chaotic habitat( sand blasting, the loose substrate, and water movement are always constant). 

That's why you should celebrate it, or rather just be stoked that your in some cool habitat.

.also here are some photos of @ascomycotas navigating cliff lines 

[h0m0less]

resurrection fern on an oak species

[spatheandspadix]

Resurrection ferns about town!!! I got so excited for these. <3 <3 <3

[keithcurrypochy]

Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides).

Resurrection Ferns can survive long periods of droughts by drying up and appearing to be dead, but as soon as they are exposed to water they come back from the dead as seen above.

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

Rains from the last cold front have really brought the Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides) to life. 

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides)

The left hand photo is resurrection fern after recent heavy rains this summer, the right is resurrection fern after two weeks of dry weather this fall. As soon as rain falls again the ferns will lose their deathly appearance and the canopy will be green with life. 

Myakka River State Park, FL

[keithcurrypochy]

Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis polypodioides)

Myakka River State Park, FL