PLATYCERIUM. 153 



GENUS XV. ' 



PLATYCERIUM. Desvaux. 



A SMALL singular family of epiphytal Ferns, the name 

 being derived from the Greek, platys — broad, and Jceras — a 

 horn, on account of the fertile fronds resembling the broad 

 horns of the elk. 



The fronds are simple, forked, coriaceous, thick, and spongy, 

 the sterile ones sessile, permanent, and successively imbricated. 

 The whole surface of the frond covered with a stellate 

 pubescence. 



Veins repeatedly forked and distantly anastomosing; venules 

 internal, compoundly reticulated, with free veinlets terminating 

 in the areoles. 



Length of fronds from one to three feet. 



There is no British representative. 



Mr. Moore, in his "Index Filicum," enumerates — 



P. stemmaria. P. biforme. 



P. alcicorne. P. grande. 



Dr. Hooker describes five species, namely: — 



P. alcicorne. Madagascar, Eastern Asia, and Peru. 



P. stemmaria, Desvaux. Western Africa, 



P. grande, Cunningham. New Holland, Singapore, and Luzon ? 



P. biforme, Blume. Malay Islands. 



P. Wallichii, Hooker. Moulmein. 



