Platycerium

Location & distribution maps

Phylogeny & links to associated information

Wikipedia links:       Monilophytes > Polypodiales > Polypodiaceae >  Platycerium

Other links:                 

Species:   P bifurcatum   P veitchii

Plant  information

Common name:         Staghorn

• Also, elkhorn fern

Conservation status: . . .

Etymology:   

• Common names arise from their uniquely shaped fronds

• Genus derived from the Greek words platys meaning "flat" and ceras meaning "a horn", referring to the shape of the fronds

Spores:                            

• The spores are born in sporangia, clustered in large sori that are usually positioned on the lobes, or at the sinus between frond lobes

• If the conditions are right, the spores will germinate naturally, on surrounding trees

Leaves:         

• Adult plants bear two types of fronds - basal and fertile fronds

• Basal fronds are sterile, shield- or kidney-shaped, and laminate against the tree, to protect the fern's roots from damage and desiccation

• In some Platycerium species, the top margin of these fronds will grow into an open crown of lobes; catching rainwater, falling forest litter, bird/animal droppings, and even the occasional fallen baby bird or deceased animal, these plants build up their own “compost” system of nutrition over many years

• Fertile fronds bear spores on their undersurface, are dichotomous or antler-shaped, and jut out or hang from the rhizome

Stem & branches: 

• Some species of Platycerium are solitary, having only one rhizome

• Other species form colonies when their rhizomes branch, or when new rhizomes are formed from root tips

Roots:         

• Adult plants have tufted roots, growing from a short rhizome

Habit:        

• Epiphytic fern 

Habitat:   

•  Tropical and temperate areas

Distribution:                  

• Native to South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Guinea

Species:                     

• World:            18

• Australia:       4

Additional notes:     

• A genus of fern species in the polypod family, Polypodiaceae

• Platycerium gametophytes are a small, heart-shaped thallus.

• Platycerium have diverged into four natural groups

• Several Platycerium are strongly adapted to xeric conditions, with a naturally drought-tolerant metabolism method having been reported for P. veitchii

Sources of information:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platycerium (2023)