Platycerium ridleyi

Staghorns or Platycerium ferns are quite popular.  They are strange looking plants with two types of fronds--sterile and fertile.  The sterile frond or base frond, protects of the roots and rhizome of the plant.  It is appressed to the fern. The fertile frond usually is pendent, but in the case of P. ridleyi, it is upright.

Not all staghorns are the same.  There is considerable debate regarding the number of species there actually are.  Some taxonomists state that there are only 15 species, and others recognize 18 species. 

Platycerium ferns are found in S. E. Asia, New Guinea, Australia, Africa (including Madagascar), Australia and South America.

There are no Platycerium native to the United States, although, Florida is a very good home for them.  The one species from South America, Platycerium andinum, is a spectacularly beautiful plant.  Its placement in the Americas makes for interesting debate because no one has determined why it is separated from the other species.  Also, while the other species make their homes in rain forests, P. andinum is quite happy in a drier situation.

The commonest species of all is undoubtedly P. bifurcatum.  This species is generally from Australia.  In cultivation it is usually found growing in a giant ball, suspended by a chain from a tree.  

 A good place to learn about staghorns is Platyerium Hobbyists Handbook, by Roy Vail.