Platycerium

Taxobox
name = "Platycerium", Staghorn Ferns

---

image_width = 250px
image_caption = Platycerium bifurcatum - National Botanical Gardens
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pteridophyta
classis = Pteridopsida
ordo = Polypodiales
familia = Polypodiaceae
genus = "Platycerium"
genus_authority = Desv.
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "Platycerium bifurcatum"
*"Platycerium andinum"
*"Platycerium alcicorne"
*"Platycerium bifurcatum"
*"Platycerium coronarium"
*"Platycerium elephantotis"
*"Platycerium ellissii"
*"Platycerium grande"
*"Platycerium hillii"
*"Platycerium holttumii"
*"Platycerium madagascariensis"
*"Platycerium ridleyi"
*"Platycerium stemaria"
*"Platycerium superbum"
*"Platycerium quadridichotomum"
*"Platycerium veitchii"
*"Platycerium wallichii"
*"Platycerium wandae"
*"Platycerium willinkii"

"Platycerium" is a genus of ~ 18 fern species in the "Polypod" family, "Polypodiaceae". Ferns in this genus are widely known as Staghorn or Elkhorn ferns due to their uniquely-shaped fronds. This genus is epiphytic and is native to tropical areas of South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Guinea."Platycerium" sporophytes (adult plants) have tufted roots growing from a short rhizome that bears two types of fronds, basal and fertile fronds. Basal fronds are sterile, shield or kidney shaped and laminate against the tree and protect the fern's roots from damage and desiccation.

In some "Platycerium" species the top margin of these fronds forms an open crown of lobes and thereby catches falling forest litter and water. Fertile fronds bear spores on their undersurface, are dichotomous or antler shaped and jut out or hang from the rhizome. The spores are born in sporangia clustered in large sori that are usually positioned on the lobes or at the sinus between frond lobes.

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. If the conditions are right the spores will germinate naturally on surrounding trees. "Platycerium" gametophytes are a small heart shaped thallus.

These oddly-shaped ferns can be found in gardens, especially tropical gardens. Staghorns can be propagated by spores produced on the underside of the fertile fronds. Colonial "Platycerium" can also be vegetatively propagated by carefully dividing large healthy ones into smaller, separate plants. These new plants can then be strapped to trees with an old stocking until they take to the tree themselves.

A mature staghorn can grow more than a meter wide. When positioned well, "Platycerium" species are able to add privacy and a natural look to a garden.

References