Common Staghorn Fern
This is a plant that looks like deer antlers. It grows on trees and does not need soil.
What is it?
The common staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum) is a type of fern that grows on trees or rocks. It is called an epiphyte, which means it uses other plants for support but does not take food from them. Its leaves look like deer antlers, which is how it got its name. It belongs to the Polypodiaceae family and is native to Australia.
How old?
Ferns are very old plants. They have been on Earth for over 360 million years. The staghorn fern is a modern fern, but its ancestors lived with dinosaurs.
What was it like?
Staghorn ferns have two kinds of leaves: flat, round leaves that attach to the tree (called shield fronds) and long, forked leaves that hang down (called fertile fronds). The fertile fronds look like deer antlers. They are green and can grow up to 3 feet long. The fern gets water and nutrients from rain and debris that collects around it.
Why does it matter?
Staghorn ferns are important for the environment. They provide homes for insects and small animals. They also help capture water and nutrients in the forest. People love to grow them in gardens and homes because they look unique and are easy to care for.
Connections
Next to find
- Look for another epiphyte, like an orchid or bromeliad.
- Find a fern that grows on the ground instead of on a tree.
- Visit a greenhouse and see how staghorn ferns are displayed.
普通鹿角蕨
这是一种看起来像鹿角的植物。它长在树上，不需要土壤。
这是什么？
普通鹿角蕨（Platycerium bifurcatum）是一种生长在树木或岩石上的蕨类植物。它被称为附生植物，意味着它利用其他植物作为支撑，但不从它们那里获取食物。它的叶子看起来像鹿角，因此得名。它属于水龙骨科，原产于澳大利亚。
有多古老？
蕨类植物是非常古老的植物。它们已经在地球上存在了超过3.6亿年。鹿角蕨是一种现代蕨类，但它的祖先曾与恐龙共存。
它是什么样的？
鹿角蕨有两种叶子：扁平圆形附着在树上的叶子（称为盾叶）和长而分叉下垂的叶子（称为能育叶）。能育叶看起来像鹿角。它们是绿色的，可以长到3英尺长。蕨类植物从雨水和周围收集的碎屑中获取水分和养分。
为什么重要？
鹿角蕨对环境很重要。它们为昆虫和小动物提供栖息地。它们还有助于在森林中捕获水分和养分。人们喜欢在花园和家中种植它们，因为它们看起来独特且易于照料。
联系
接下来寻找
- 寻找另一种附生植物，比如兰花或凤梨。
- 找一种生长在地上而不是树上的蕨类植物。
- 参观温室，看看鹿角蕨是如何展示的。