Our Live Oaks support a thriving community of Pleopeltis polypodiodies (Resurrection fern) which is an epiphyte. They are able to lose 95% of their free water during times of drought and are then able to rehydrated during a rainstorm (and resurrect). Typical plants die after losing only 10% of their free water. Part of their magic apparently involves proteins called dehydrins that allow the cell walls to fold in a reversible way. It has been estimated that they could live up to 100 years without water and still rehydrate to their seemingly youthful state.
