plant · GBIF taxon 4024927
Platycerium coronarium
platycerium coronariumAlso known as Crown Staghorn Fern, Coronet Staghorn Fern
Crown staghorn ferns drape themselves high in the tropical canopy, forming massive, basket-like structures that can weigh hundreds of pounds. Their broad, upright shield fronds clasp tightly to host trees to collect falling leaf litter and rainwater, while spectacular, ribbon-like fertile fronds cascade downward like green chandeliers. These giant epiphytes serve as vital aerial microhabitats, sheltering a diverse community of insects, amphibians, and smaller plants.
EpiphyticTropicalFern
- diet
- Water, sunlight, and decaying organic matter
- family
- Polypodiaceae
- threats
- Habitat destruction and poaching for the horticultural trade
- life Span
- 20 to 50 years
NE
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
- Look upward: Scan the high canopy of mature rainforest trees where these massive epiphytes anchor.
- Observe the base: Notice how the broad shield fronds form a basket to collect falling leaves.
- Inspect the lobes: Look for the specialized, crescent-shaped spore patches on the hanging fronds.