Zombie Fern in the Tramuntana: How a Seemingly Dead Fern Comes Back to Life

A fern that suddenly sprouts again after months

Recently, on an early-morning hike toward Fornalutx, I noticed something odd on the rugged walls of the Serra de Tramuntana: in many shaded crevices sat bronze-colored, seemingly dried-out leaves — and a few days after a rainfall they turned green again. A real little natural wonder. People here gladly call such plants "Zombie" plants.

What's behind it?

Biologists at the Universitat de les Illes Balears study these species, for example the fern Ceterach officinarum. It appears to be completely desiccated for a long time, but as soon as moisture arrives, the plant quickly restores its metabolic processes. Anyone who has walked through the Torrent area in July knows: dry first, then life returns suddenly. This is not magic, but adaptation.

Mosses and ferns are the classics among the “revivers”. They endure drought by storing water and limiting cellular damage. This is important for the Tramuntana, where shade and rock crevices create microclimates in which such plants live. On the Lluc path, they stand between rock and old dry walls, almost inconspicuous – yet remarkably resilient.

Why this matters for us

The researchers here have a clear goal: to understand which mechanisms help these plants survive drought and then regrow. The idea is to later apply these insights to crops. In an area where rainfall is becoming more irregular, such traits could help stabilize yields.

I spoke with a young female scientist who prepared samples at the university last week. She said: "It's not about turning corn into a fern, but about leveraging specific stress responses." Sounds sensible. And it also sounds a bit like what you can observe here in Mallorca's gardens for some time: plants that have learned to get by with little.

Where everyday life and research meet

For hikers, gardeners and farmers on the island, this is more than just a curious name. If science truly finds ways to transfer drought tolerance, that will in the long run change how we grow and garden here. Until then, it’s worth taking a closer look at the rocks on the next walk. Sometimes a small wonder hides right beside the path – and it’s not a ghost, but pure will to survive.

Note: If you want to observe such plants, please do not dig them up. Let that little green stuff stay where it works.