Indigo Purple Vampire Fern

The Indigo Purple Vampire Fern, commonly referred to simply as the "Vampire Fern," is an extremely rare plant species with remarkable anti-photogenic qualities. With only one known specimen in existence, its peculiarity is that no photo, film, or video is able to capture its image. The only way to see the fern is to come visit it in person. A designated California State Landmark, the Vampire Fern was previously housed and maintained at the Greenhouse in Arcata, California. At 3:14am on October 1, 2019, the fern was stolen by two perpetrators wearing what appear to be orca whale costumes. The Vampire Fern's status is currently unknown, with the perpetrators still at large.

The plant cryptid is the subject of the film The Case For the Vampire Fern.

Artist's Renderings
Because the Vampire Fern's image cannot be captured with technological means, many visual artists have attempted to render its true likeness from life drawing sessions. In a phenomenon that has baffled the global scientific community, there are often great divergences between how any two people see the fern. This has also made it difficult for law enforcement to conduct their investigation and search for the Vampire Fern.