Platycerium.] CLVI. FILICES. 1995 



1. P. alcicorne (Elk's horn), Desv.; Hook. Spec. Filic v. 282, Syn. Filic. 425 ; 

 Benth. Fl. Austr. 780. Elk's-horn Fern. Bari'en fronds orbicular-cordate, cottony 

 when young, 6in. to 1ft. long and broad, rigid, the margin more or less sinuate 

 or obtusely lobed. Fertile fronds attaining 2 to 3ft., contracted into a distinct 

 stipes, dilated upwards, once twice or thr'.ce forked. Sori or patclies of spore- 

 cases occupying the whole or the greater part of the ultimate lobes. — Bail. 

 Litho. Ferns Ql. 189 ; Acrestichum, alcicorne, 8wartz ; E. Br. Prod. 145 ; Bot. 

 Reg. t. 262. 



Hab.: Common in scrubs north and south. , 



Var. Hillii — P. Hillii, T. Moore, Gard. Chron. This only differs from the type in that the 

 fronds are of a thicker texture and the lobes broader and shorter. — Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 190. 

 Hab.: Cairns, W. Hill. 

 Also in the Mascarene Islands. 



2. P. grande (great), J. Sm.; Hook. Spec. Filic. v. 284, Filic. Exot. t. 86, 

 Syn. Filic. 425 ; Benth. Fl. Amtr. vii. 781. Stag's-horn Fern. A larger plant 

 than P. alcicorne, often more membranous but the primary veins more prominent. 

 Barren spreading fronds often more than 2ft. diameter, the margin deeply and 

 irregularly lobed. Fertile fronds from a broad rigid winged stipes expanding 

 to a great breadth, diehotomously divided, but the first fork leaving a very 

 broad truncate sinus under which the fructification forms a patch from 6 to 

 19in. broad, the forks on each side often above 3ft. long, deeply and diehotomously 

 lobed but barren.— Bedd. Ferns Brit. Ind. t. 326 ; Bail. Litho. Ferns Ql. 191. 



Hab.: Common in dense scrubs north and south. 

 Also in the Malayan Archipelago. 



