Platycerium bifurcatum
Plant Number: 37
Common Name: Elkhorn Fern
Scientific Name: Platycerium bifurcatum
Derivation of name
Platycerium - is derived from the Greek words 'platys' meaning flat and 'ceras' meaning a horn, referring to the shape of the fronds
bifurcatum - means to fork into two branches, again, referring to the shape of the fronds
Description
- Species of fern which occurs naturally along the coast of Queensland and New South Wales including Lord Howe Island
- Bracket epiphyte, meaning it grows on the surface of a tree or boulder and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain or from debris accumulating around it
- Occurs in and near rainforests growing to 90 cm tall and 80 cm wide, requires shade and needs to be kept moist
- May be preyed upon by scale bugs and mealy bugs however these pests may be removed from the plant by scratching them off, ladybirds will also eat them
- Each plant is composed of a mass of plantlets (consists of a nest leaf 12-30 cm wide, lying against the bark of the host tree) and the next leaves of neighbouring plantlets overlap one another and become brown and papery with age
- Fertile fronds 25-90 cm long protrude from each plantlet, spores are produced on the under surface and are coloured tan brown, with the texture of velvet cloth
- Easiest way to propagate is to remove a plantlet and then tie it to the desired new location however they can be propagated from spores
Interesting
It has become naturalised (i.e. it has spread into the wild) in many countries after being introduced by humans. In Hawaii, it has been listed as an invasive species (i.e. weed).
Acknowledgment: Australian National Botanical Gardens, Australian National Herbarium