Palms and ferns

[Tom Dunlap]

Last weekend when I was in Orlando for Geezers I noticed some palms that had ferns growing in the frond stubs. This is something that I never noticed before. We talked about it a little and wondered if maybe the ferns were planted in there to soften the look of the stubble. We were driving so I couldn't ake a picture, sorry

I don't know palms very well but it looked like only this species supported the ferns. Is this natural or were they planted?

 

[Rocks_and_Trees]

I can't say for Florida, but here in AZ many things can be found growing out of a palm tree. I've seen grass, flowers, bouganvilla, and even a mesquite tree! They grow right out of the "stubble" like you were saying.

I've also seen other palms growing out (wish I had an image of the infamous two-headed palm).

 

[TreeCo]

[ QUOTE ]
Last weekend when I was in Orlando for Geezers I noticed some palms that had ferns growing in the frond stubs. This is something that I never noticed before. We talked about it a little and wondered if maybe the ferns were planted in there to soften the look of the stubble. We were driving so I couldn't ake a picture, sorry

I don't know palms very well but it looked like only this species supported the ferns. Is this natural or were they planted?

[/ QUOTE ]

Georgia has a native epiphytic fern, Resurrection Fern (Polypodium polypodioides. We have it growing quite a few places around our property. They are a pretty cool fern and have been reported to live up to 100 years without water!. When they are dry they look dead but only hours after a rain they look full of life.

http://www.gaconservancy.org/News/News_resurrection_fern.asp

Here is a photo taken just a few minutes ago.

http://arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=63444&d=1201101491

 

[TreeCo]

Here is a photo of some resurrection fern that was growing on a tree I removed a few years ago. I've kept this fern growing on the pieces of wood that I found it growing on for about 4 years now and have not moved it. It is spreading and with any luck I plan on moving it around the yard. In both this and the last photo the resurrection fern is about half way between it's dry and hydrated states. (The pots are one gallon for scale.)

http://arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=63445&d=1201101725

And another:

http://arboristsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=63447&d=1201102121