Platycerium

Common name:         Staghorn

• Also, elkhorn fern

Conservation status: unkown

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

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Roots:         

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

Habit:        

• Epiphytic fern 

Habitat:   

• x 

Distribution:                  

• Native to tropical and temperate areas of South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Guinea

Species:                     

• World:            18

• Australia:     

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