# Staghorn Fern (*Platycerium grande (A.Cunn. ex Hook.) J.Sm.*)

Staghorn ferns are unique plants that grow on trees or rocks. They have long, antler-like leaves that can look like the horns of a deer. These ferns love humidity and can be found in tropical rainforests.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Rainforests
- **Also known as:** Elkhorn Fern, Platycerium

![Staghorn Fern](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Platycerium_bifurcatum.jpg&width=800)

Photo: fir0002 flagstaffotos \[at\] gmail.com Canon 20D + Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8, GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Platycerium_bifurcatum.jpg)

## Appearance

The Staghorn Fern is a unique epiphyte, showcasing two distinct frond types: large, round, sterile basal fronds that start green and turn brown to form a cup, and elongated, deeply lobed, fertile fronds resembling deer or elk antlers, often light green with a velvety texture underneath.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Polypodiopsida
- **Order:** Polypodiales
- **Family:** Polypodiaceae
- **Genus:** Platycerium

## Interesting facts

- Some giant staghorn ferns can weigh over a hundred pounds!
- The round, brown 'shield' leaves protect the roots and store water!
- They don't have true roots in the ground, only for anchoring themselves!
- Young staghorns grow as tiny plantlets, forming huge colonies over time!

## Special abilities

- **Nutrient Collector:** Staghorn Fern has tough, sterile basal fronds that create a basket to collect falling leaves, insects, and water for nutrients.
- **Tree Hugger:** Staghorn Fern can grow on tree trunks or rocks using specialized roots, allowing it to reach sunlight above the forest floor.
- **Spore Scatterer:** Staghorn Fern has fertile fronds with fuzzy undersides that release millions of tiny spores, helping it spread to new locations.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 50-150 cm
- **Spread:** 50-200 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial

## Ecological connections

- **Shelter:** spiny ant (*Polyrhachis armata*) — builds nests within its basal fronds
- **Depends on:** weeping fig (*Ficus benjamina*) — grows attached to its bark for support
- **Parasitizes:** hemispherical scale (*Saissetia coffeae*) — feeds on the fern's sap, weakening it

## Traits

- [Fronded](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fronded): Fronded plants possess large, divided leaves, characteristic of ferns and certain palms.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
- [Rainforest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rainforest): This habitat trait refers to species found in tropical rainforests, characterized by high annual rainfall, high biodiversity, and dense tree cover.

## Collections

- [Ferns](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/ferns)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Admire these ferns from a distance to protect their delicate leaves.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Staghorn Fern?

Compare frond shape, how the leaflets are arranged, the stalk, and any spore clusters you can see. A single detached leaflet often hides the plant's overall growth pattern. Fern Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Staghorn Fern?

50-150 cm

### How wide does Staghorn Fern spread?

50-200 cm

### Is Staghorn Fern edible?

No

### Is Staghorn Fern toxic?

None

### What is Staghorn Fern's lifecycle?

Perennial

### Where is Staghorn Fern usually found?

Rainforests

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Staghorn Fern: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/staghorn-fern)