"Zombie Tree Fern: Turning Dead Leaves into New Roots"

Scientists have discovered that the Panamanian tree fern, Cyathea rojasiana, has the unique ability to transform its deceased leaf fronds into root-like structures, a phenomenon dubbed "zombie leaves." This adaptation allows the fern to draw nutrients back into the main plant by reversing the flow of water. The discovery sheds light on the plant's ability to thrive in nutrient-poor volcanic soils and highlights the extraordinary diversity of plant adaptations in resource-poor environments.