Platycerium
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Platycerium is a genus of about 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 and temperate areas of South America, Africa, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Guinea.[1]
Description
Platycerium sporophytes (adult plants) have tufted roots, growing from a short rhizome, and 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 an occasional fallen 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. The spores are borne in sporangia, clustered in large sori that are usually positioned on the tips of the lobes, on a specialized stalked lobe (as in P. ridleyi and P. coronarium), or at the sinus between frond lobes. [2]
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. A Platycerium gametophyte is 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.[3]
Species
| Image | Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| File:Platycerium alcicorne - Berlin Botanical Garden - IMG 8687.JPG | Platycerium alcicorne Desv .Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Madagascar, Comoros Island, Mauritius, Réunion, Seychelles, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe. |
| File:Platycerium andinum 1.jpg | Platycerium andinum BakerScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. |
| File:Starr-110307-2129-Platycerium bifurcatum-habit-Kula Botanical Garden-Maui (24959509032).jpg | Platycerium bifurcatum (Cav.) C. Chr .Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Australia states of New South Wales, Queensland, Norfolk Island and Lord Howe Island. |
| File:Staghorn Fern (Platycerium coronarium) (8752670563).jpg | Platycerium coronarium (J. Koenig ex O. F. Müll.) Desv .Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Indonesia Sumatra, Kalimantan, West Java, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. |
| Platycerium ellisii BakerScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Madagascar only in the provinces of Antsiranana and Toamasina. | |
| File:Platycerium angolense - Wilhelma Zoo - Stuttgart, Germany - DSC02037.jpg | Platycerium elephantotis Schweinf.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Angola, Benin, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sudan and South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, tropical Africa |
| File:Platycerium grande (114).JPG | Large antler fern (Platycerium grande (Fée) Kunze)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Philippines Province of Mindanao and Indonesia, in the Province of North Sulawesi and Gorontalo. |
| File:Elkhorn fern.jpg | Platycerium hillii T. MooreScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". (Also referred to as a variety of Platycerium bifurcatum var. Hillii (T. Moore) Domin) | Australia Queensland, Papua New Guinea and Papua Indonesia. |
| File:Holttum's Staghorn - Platycerium holttumii (7105572791).jpg | Platycerium holttumii de Jonch. & HennipmanScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Malaysia, Northern Peninsular, State of Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan, Thailand and Indochina. |
| File:Platycerium madagasariense tropicalferns.JPG | Platycerium madagascariense BakerScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Madagascar in the provinces of Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa and Toamasina. |
| Platycerium quadridichotomum (Bonap.) TardieuScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Madagascar only in Ankarana, Bemaraha, Bemarivo, Montagne d’Ambre including Fôret d'Ambre. | |
| File:Platycerium ridleyi.jpg | Platycerium ridleyi ChristScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Malaysia, Southern Thailand, Indonesia Sumatra and Kalimantan. |
| File:Platycerium stemaria kz1.JPG | Triangle antler fern (Platycerium stemaria (P. Beauv.) Desv.)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo, Dem. Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea (incl. Bioko), Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Senegal, Sudan and South Sudan, Uganda, Principe, Sao Tomé, tropical Africa. |
| File:Platycerium superbum Coffs Harbour.jpg | Magnificent antler fern (Platycerium superbum de Jonch. & Hennipman)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Queensland and New South Wales. |
| File:Platycerium veitchii.jpg | Platycerium veitchii (Underw.) C. Chr.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". (Syn .: Platycerium bifurcatum subsp. Veitchii (Underw.) Hennipman & M. C. Roos) | Queensland. |
| File:Platycerium wallichii kz01.jpg | Platycerium wallichii Hook .Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Northeastern India, Thailand, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and western Yunnan. |
| File:PlatyceriumWandae.JPG | Platycerium wandae Racib .Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Papua New Guinea, Indonesia Papua and Maluku Island. |
| File:Staghorn Fern Platycerium willinckii (7881230044).jpg | Platycerium willinckii T. MooreScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". (Also referred to as a subspecies of Platycerium bifurcatum subsp. Willinckii (T. Moore) Hennipman & M. C. Roos ). | Sulawesi and Java |
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Cultivation
The species Platycerium bifurcatum and Platycerium superbum are commonly cultivated as ornamental plants. These oddly shaped ferns grow on trees and rocks and 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 attached to board mounts or be strapped to trees until they take to the tree themselves.
A mature staghorn can grow more than Template:Convert wide.
Gallery
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References
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