Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Platycerium alcicorne

Platycerium alcicorne

9.9
A fern with antler-like leaves often grown as a decorative plant
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Platycerium alcicorne
  • Native to Australia and Southeast Asia, Platycerium alcicorne thrives in warm, humid climates.

Examples

  • Many plant enthusiasts grow Platycerium alcicorne indoors because of its unique, decorative fronds.

  • The Platycerium alcicorne is often displayed mounted on wood in botanical gardens.

  • The Platycerium alcicorne thrives in humid environments.

  • Many gardeners love Platycerium alcicorne for its unique shape.

  • Many plant enthusiasts grow Platycerium alcicorne indoors because of its unique, decorative fronds.

  • Native to Australia and Southeast Asia, Platycerium alcicorne thrives in warm, humid climates.

  • The Platycerium alcicorne is often displayed mounted on wood in botanical gardens.

Synonyms

Platycerium bifurcatum
vsPlatycerium alcicorne
  • Specialized
9.9

A fern with split, antler-like leaves often grown as a houseplant

is described the same but differs only in scientific name
common staghorn fern
vsPlatycerium alcicorne
  • Australian
7.8

A fern with large antler-shaped leaves often grown on wooden boards

is often cultivated but is not necessarily the common garden form
elkhorn fern
vsPlatycerium alcicorne
  • Australian
9.3

A large fern with fronds like deer antlers that grows on trees and is kept as a decorative plant

is the regional ornamental species that is less focused on elk-like frond shape

Surface Forms

Platycerium alcicorne singular
Platycerium alcicornes plural

Morphology

Platycerium + alcicorne

The first element 'Platycerium' names a genus of staghorn ferns, so a learner who knows that word can infer the compound refers to a type or species of those ferns. However, 'alcicorne' has no dictionary gloss here and species epithets are arbitrary/Latin and not compositional English, so the exact meaning is not predictable without taxonomic knowledge.

Etymology

Platycerium alcicorne comes from old Greek and Latin words: platy means 'broad' and alcicorne means 'elk horn' or 'horn', because the fern's wide, forked leaves look like big antlers. That's why the name suits this staghorn fern often grown as a decorative plant.