Look closely at the branches of tall trees and you may see a crawling plant that has gone to space! Named after its impressive ability to “resurrect” after losing up to 97% of its water content in extreme conditions, the Resurrection Fern is a staple in many forests of the southern United States. This native species requires a host plant as it is epiphytic (only grows on top of other plants), though it does not steal resources from the host. As a true fern, it can spread through rhizome growth or through spore dispersal. When dry, it appears dull gray and curls its fronds in. Once rain soaks the plant, it springs back to life after just a few hours. This interesting ability led to it being studied on the International Space Station in 1997, as scientists wanted to see its reaction to being resurrected at zero gravity. To save you a trip to space, this hardy plant can resurrect even in the absence of gravity!

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