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155.100 Platycerium
Crouch, N.R., Klopper, R.R., Burrows, J.E. & Burrows, S.M. (2011) Ferns of Southern Africa, A comprehensive guide Struik Nature
Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983) The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria.
Roux, J.P. (2001) Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13
Roux, J.P. (2009) Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands
Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970) Pteridophyta FZ
Description of the genus
Large epiphytes with short rounded rhizomes and a mass of roots. Fronds strongly dimorphous. Sterile fronds clasping the host (forming 'nest leaves'), sessile, persistent, circular to oblong, entire to shallowly lobed, becoming brown and enclosing a mass of roots, old sterile fronds and plant detritus. Fertile fronds emerging from the base of the sterile fronds, simple and broadly cuneate to dichotomously divided, arching or pendulous, undersurface densely set with stellate hairs. Main veins dichotomously branched, secondary veins forming areoles. Sori spread over the undersurface of the fertile frond, confined to the lobe or the bifurcations or covering large areas, mixed with stellate paraphyses. Derivation of name: platys: flat,referring to the broad, flat sterile fronds; keras: honeycomb,referring to the prominent venation Comment: Known to gardeners under the name of 'staghorn ferns' Worldwide: c. 18 species, pantropical distribution |
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Links to taxa: View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this genus
| Species | FZ divisions | Content |
| alcicorne Desv. | Z,MS,GI | Description, Image |
| elephantotis Schweinf. | Z,MS | Image |
Other sources of information about Platycerium:
Flora of Zimbabwe: PlatyceriumePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Platycerium
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Platycerium
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Platycerium
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Platycerium
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Platycerium
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