Käyttäjän kywanderer päiväkirja

Ferns favor sites with lot of moisture. At least this is what we are typically taught about them. However, this is our local fern that most strongly defies such a characterization. First, resurrection fern is not at all common in northeastern Kentucky; I usually feel like I really found something when I discover a new locality for the plant. Usually, when I encounter Pleopeltis, it is on limestone outcrops; however, at this site it is on a sandstone exposure.

Poikilohydry, the ability to tolerate/survive significantly varying levels of hydration/dehydration is an ability I think of as reserved, plant-wise, for many bryophytes (it should be noted here that many vascular xerophytes such as cacti, stonecrops, and others exhibit poikilohydry as well.).. Definitely not an ability where I have ferns uppermost in mind. This particular site in central Rowan County, KY, is one I see on a frequent basis, due to the ease of observation and my proclivity for outdoor activity in the Daniel Boone National Forest. A majority of the time, the fronds have a curled-up appearance. After a period of rain, however, the fronds rehydrate and once again actually look like a fern. Based on my observations, and some comments made by others, it takes several hours for the fronds to fully "open up" after having a low water content.