P.coronarium is widely distributed through Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, Sumatera, Borneo and the Philippines. Franken and Roos reported in Sumatera it is very common in the lower levels of the swamp forests, where there may be little light.
This staghorn forms pups differently from any other species. The rhizome, back in the moss away from the bud, forms a branch which grows towards the side where it comes to the surface, becomes a bud and grows into a pup. This branching tends to be in the same plane as the original bud, making the buds of the pups appear in a row, all about the same distance above the ground. In nature this allows the plant to form a cluster which surrounds the tree trunk. In such clusters, the oldest plants have the longest fertile fronds.
Some people plan ahead for this type of branching by mounting P. coronarium either in a ball, or locating it on a board so the bud is below the bottom edge of the wood. Either way prevents the rhizome branch from running into anything solid.
In nature P. coronarium is nearly always ant-inhabited, which may mean it actually attracts insects. Natural light levels tend to be low, but occasional photographs show it in nearly full sun.
Once established, P.coronarium tends to be a tough plant that will live for a long time. Even then it can be killed by overwatering. It stands cool temperatures best when dry, and is not a cold-hardy species. |