Staghorn fern

Platycerium bifurcatum

''Platycerium bifurcatum'' is a species of fern native to Java, New Guinea and southeastern Australia, in New South Wales, Queensland and on Lord Howe Island. It is a bracket epiphyte occurring in and near rainforests.
Elkhorn Fern Staghorn ferns Platycerium superbum are very similar to Elkhorn Ferns Platycerium bifurcatum. The Elkhorn name comes from the the look of the large fronds that look like elk horns. They are made up of 2 leaf types, broad heart shaped sterile fronds which attach themselves to the trees and long arching grey-green fertile fronds which are forked and strap shaped that cascade down. Australia,Fall,Geotagged,Platycerium bifurcatum,Staghorn fern

Appearance

Growing to 90 cm tall by 80 cm broad, it has heart-shaped sterile fronds 12–45 cm long, and arching grey-green fertile fronds which are forked and strap-shaped, and grow up to 90 cm long.
Staghorn Fern A macro image of a Staghorn Fern's shield frond reveals tiny hairlike structures. Geotagged,Platycerium bifurcatum,Spring,Staghorn fern,United States,backyard,closeup,garden,greenhouse,macro,shield frond

Naming

The specific epithet ''bifurcatum'' means bifurcated or forked, referring to the fertile fronds.
A really beautiful plant on a tree. Seen on a tree in Mauritius, the wonderful patterns really caught my eye, Geotagged,Mauritius,Platycerium bifurcatum,Staghorn fern,Winter

Habitat

''Platycerium bifurcatum'' is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant for gardens. With a minimum temperature requirement of 5 °C , in temperate regions it may be grown outdoors in sheltered locations, otherwise as a houseplant. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomPlantae
DivisionPolypodiophyta
ClassPolypodiopsida
OrderPolypodiales
FamilyPolypodiaceae
GenusPlatycerium
SpeciesP. bifurcatum
Photographed in
Australia
Mauritius
United States of America