Researchers discover unique zombie plant. “Zombie plant”: Plants wither but form new roots.
University of Illinois researchers found that the fern changes the inner part of its dead and dying leaves. New fine roots grow from the tips of the leaves, which penetrate the soil and supply the mother plant with nitrogen. This transformation prevents rotting while the rest of the leaf withers. The exact biochemical process is not yet known, but the volcanic soil could be the reason for the plant's uniqueness.