Staghorn fern

Platycerium is a genus of about 18 species of ferns, four of which occur here in eastern Australia.

Staghorns are generally epiphytic (growing on trees), or occasionally lithophytic (growing on rocks). These ferns have broad nest fronds, or sterile fronds which grow and embrace the host and form a humus-collecting bowl, which can reach impressive dimensions of 1 metre or more across.