|                    Resurrection fern
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                |                    Pleopeltis polypodioides var. michauxiana
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                |                    Polypodiaceae 
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                 Landscape Uses:
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                 Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations. Also accent epiphyte. | 
               
                Ecological Restoration Notes:  | 
               
              
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                | Availability: | 
               
              
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                 Grown by enthusiasts. | 
               
              
                | Description: | 
               
              
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                 Epiphytic fern. | 
               
              
                | Height: | 
               
              
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                 Fronds 4-8 inches long. | 
               
              
                | Growth Rate: | 
               
              
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                 Slow. | 
               
              
                | Range: | 
               
              
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                 Eastern and central United States west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; Mexico and Central America.  Very rare in the Monroe County Keys, and perhaps absent south of Key Largo. | 
               
              
                | Habitats: | 
               
              
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                 Moist forests and swamps. | 
               
              
                | Soils: | 
               
              
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                 Epiphytic; or terrestrial in moist, well-drained humusy leaf litter, acid to neutral pH. | 
               
              
                | Nutritional Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Low; it grows on nutrient poor substrate. | 
               
              
                | Salt Water Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water. | 
               
              
                | Salt Wind Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation. | 
               
              
                | Drought Tolerance: | 
               
              
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                 Moderate; requires moist substrate and high humidity to thrive. | 
               
              
                | Light Requirements: | 
               
              
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                 Light shade to moderate shade. | 
               
              
                | Flower Color: | 
               
              
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                 N/A. | 
               
              
                | Flower Characteristics: | 
               
              
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                 There are no flowers; the plants reproduce by spores. | 
               
              
                | Flowering Season: | 
               
              
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                 All year. | 
               
              
                | Fruit: | 
               
              
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                 Inconspicuous spores. | 
               
              
                | Wildlife and Ecology: | 
               
              
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                | Horticultural Notes: | 
               
              
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                 Can be grown from spores. | 
               
              
                | Comments: | 
               
              
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                 These ferns "shrivel up" during dry spells and then "come back to life" after a rain - hence the common name of the plant. | 
               
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                    George D. Gann In habitat, Everglades National Park, Florida
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