This is a resurrection fern growing on a southern live oak in Wildewood. The resurrection fern is not a parasite. It’s an epiphyte (or air plant, which means it gets nutrients and water from the air—rain/dust) that grows attached to branches of forest trees and sometimes upon rocks or dry ground. “This fern’s long thin rhizomes grow creeping along narrow cracks or the furrows of the host tree’s bark (Floridata.com)."
It’s called a miracle plant because during drought the leaves turn brown and look dead. It’s not. When it rains, it’s dense furry green coat appears.
Florida’s climate might be described as "wet desert" with normal periods of extreme wet and dry conditions. This little fern evolved and adapted to tolerate these extremes. Although it can lose up to 97% of its water and still survive, it typically only loses about 76% during droughts. It has been speculated that these plants could go 100 years without water and still revive after a single soaking (Florida Native Plant Society).
The fern dries with its bottom sides upward so when it rains, they get the water first. Here is a time-lapse video of their amazing unfolding (2.5 hours in 60 seconds).
