resurrection fern

noun

1. a drought-resistant, evergreen, epiphytic fern, Polypodium polypodioides, of subtropical to tropical America, appearing to be a ball of coiled, dead leaves in the dry season but reviving with moisture.

Word History and Origins

Origin of resurrection fern¹

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Example Sentences

Its forests are dominated by wind-tortured live oaks draped with Spanish moss and greened by resurrection fern, gnomish and ceaselessly amazing.

From The Guardian

Up above, on the sloping branches of oak trees, whiskery bromeliads, Spanish moss and the gray fronds of resurrection fern tangled in a miniature jungle all their own.

From New York Times

In 1997, the resurrection ferns were taken into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery to observe their resurrection in zero gravity.

From The Guardian

Sip your evening sherry on the wraparound porch, under 150-year-old oaks covered with resurrection ferns.

From Southern Living