Ferns on palm tree trunk

It depends on the fern. Most are harmless to the tree.

No.

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Ferns are epiphytes that use the palm tree or any other tree to park themsleves. Like orchids they draw their nourishment from the blown detritis that get trapped in their root crevices. They don't draw any nourishment from the host tree and are harmless to their host. I think the relationship and the appearance of a fern growing on a tree is beautiful.

You probably have a Resurrection Fern, so named because it dries up in dry weather and greens again when it rains. An epiphyte, not a parasite. Some "air plants", like Spanish Moss, are rumored to damage trees but they do not. They grow more densely in trees with thinner foliage, a possible sign the tree is already weakened. Some cool stuff growing here :o)