The leathery, yellow-green pinnae (leaflets) are deeply pinnatifid, oblong to narrowly lanceolate, usually widest near middle, occasionally at or near base.

It attaches to the limbs of its host plant with a branching, creeping, slender rhizome, which grows to 2 mm in diameter.

The gametophytes (the haploid gamete producers) develop from very small spores that float in the air and are deposited on moist tree branches.

Pleopeltis polypodioides resides in the hardwood forests of southeastern United States in areas including Delaware, Maryland, the Carolinas, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois, Ohio, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma.

Pleopeltis polypodioides gets its common name "resurrection fern" because it can survive long periods of drought by curling up its fronds and appearing desiccated, grey-brown and dead.

[7] When it regains moisture, the fern can once again become photosynthetically active, increasing its metabolism and release of organic compounds that provide nutrients for symbiotic bacteria that allow them both to thrive.

Pleopeltis polypodioides has a porous cell structure network that can expand and rearrange to accommodate absorbing three to four times its weight in water after being exposed.

[9] When the fronds "dry", the mesophyll deforms, which causes the lamina to curl and exposes the underside and show the peltate scales.

[5] Pleopeltis polypodioides has adapted to survive desiccation with the ability of its cell walls to deform and reform, without bursting or rupturing.

[12] The thermoluminescent activity of the resurrection fern increased as it was exposed to six separate but consecutive flashes of green safelight at its leaves.