Platycerium alcicorne Desv.

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Platycerium alcicorne

Photo: Bart Wursten
Maforga Mission, Gondola

Platycerium alcicorne

Photo: Bart Wursten
Cheringoma Escarpment

Platycerium alcicorne

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along entrance road to Levasflor, Cheringoma

Platycerium alcicorne

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along entrance road to Levasflor, Cheringoma

Platycerium alcicorne

Photo: Bart Wursten
Road to Chinizuiwa River, Cheringoma

Platycerium alcicorne

Photo: Bart Wursten
Path to Tava Marsh, Moribane Forest

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Synonyms: Acrostichum alcicorne P. Willemet
Elaphoglossum alcicorne (Desv.) Keyserl.
Platycerium bifurcatum sensu Sim.
Platycerium vassei Poisson
Common names:
Frequency: Locally frequent
Status: Native
Description:
Rhizome short, c. 1 cm in diameter, rhizome scales brown. Sterile fronds round to reniform, convex, notched at the base and overlapping, forming at maturity an almost hemispherical mass, 32 cm in diamater, thinly set with minute hairs, becoming glabrous with age. Fertile fronds up to 60 cm long, narrowly cuneate, reduced towards the base into a short and thick petiole, 2-4 times dichotomously branched, divided into rounded to bluntly pointed segments up to 30 × 2.5 cm, subglabrous above, densely set with minute stellate hairs below. Several sporangal areas on the underside of the lamina borne in soral areas on the ultimate and penultimate lobes; initially median on the segment, reaching from margin to margin and down to the sinus when mature, never covering the segment apex; covered with white stellate hairs.
Notes: Not to be confused with P. elephantotis which has broad, undivided fertile fronds.
Derivation of specific name: alcicorne: alces: the generic name of an elk, cornu: horn; translating to the common name 'elkhorn'
Habitat: High-level epiphyte in deciduous woodland or dry, semi-deciduous forest, exposed or partially shaded.
Altitude range: Up to 400 m
Worldwide distribution: Comoro Isl., Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
Mozambique distribution: Z,MS,GI
Growth form(s): Epiphyte.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Thursday 25 April 2019
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. (1990). Southern African Ferns and Fern Allies. Frandsen, Sandton. Pages 188 - 189. (Includes a picture).

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 44.

Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 13.

Golding, J.S. (ed.) (2002). Zimbabwe Plant Red Data List. Southern African Plant Red Data Lists. SABONET 14 Page 168.

Jacobsen, W.B.G. (1983). The Ferns and Fern Allies of Southern Africa. Butterworths, Durban and Pretoria. Pages 301 - 302. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 8.

Roux, J.P. (2001). Conspectus of Southern African Pteridophyta. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report 13 Page 96.

Roux, J.P. (2009). Synopsis of the Lycopodiophyta and Pteridophyta of Africa, Madagascar and neighbouring islands Page 162.

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1970). Pteridophyta Flora Zambesiaca Pages 145 - 146.

Other sources of information about Platycerium alcicorne:

Our websites:

Flora of Zimbabwe: Platycerium alcicorne
Flora of Zimbabwe: cultivated Platycerium alcicorne

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Platycerium alcicorne
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Platycerium alcicorne
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Platycerium alcicorne
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Platycerium alcicorne
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Platycerium alcicorne
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Platycerium alcicorne
JSTOR Plant Science: Platycerium alcicorne
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Platycerium alcicorne
Plants of the World Online: Platycerium alcicorne
Tropicos: Platycerium alcicorne
Wikipedia: Platycerium alcicorne


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave 2007-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Mozambique: Species information: Platycerium alcicorne.
https://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=101400, retrieved 29 March 2024

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