This bog or upland pool is along the Robbins Branch Trail in the Birkhead Wilderness of Uwharrie National Forest. Note the large oak tree in the water (center top of the photo). As we approached this pool, looking for eggs and birds, my naturalist friend, Balinda, with the sharp eyes of an experienced birder saw what appeared to be ferns going on the tree. Closer views with binoculars confirmed they were dried ferns. Resurrection Ferns often grow on the top side of cypress and oak trees. They can lose 97% of their moisture and survive. When this happens, the leaves turn with their underside up. Since leaves absorb water from the underside, when it rains or mists, these leaves are ready to soak up the moisture and re-hydrate. There is also a mechanism in the leaf's system which allows it to not break apart when it dries out as most leaves would.
These are salamander eggs. Often mistaken as frog eggs, salamander eggs have an extra layer of gelatinous mass surrounding them. Frog eggs are surrounded by a gelatinous mass individually but the entire raft of eggs does not have the extra layer.
Resurrection Ferns growing on the horizontal limb of this oak tree.
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