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ชายผ้าสีดาริดลีอาย
(เขากวางตั้ง) |
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Platycerium ridleyi |
The range of P.ridleyi includes Sumatera, Malay Peninsula, and paBorneo |
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Platycerium ridleyi (rid-lee-eye)
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Named for J. Ridley author of "Ferns of The Malay Peninsula."
The fertile fronds of this species, particularly when young, bear such a great resemblance to the antlers of a deer that "staghorn" fits it perfectly. Rarely a meter 39 inches across the fertile fronds, it is the smallest Platycerium that reproduces only by spores.
The tall ridges formed by the veins on its shield fronds run in continuous lines out to its edge. These ridges cause spaces between the shields. In nature ants pack these spaces with debris, leaving only the top 1/3 empty. The spaces between the shields cause the rhizome to be particularly long.
The spore patch forms on the underside of spoon-shaped lobes. The only other staghorn to do this is its closest relative, P.coronarium. Like P.coronarium the spores of P.ridleyi tend to be released in one mass. |
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P.ridleyi on trees along rivers and streams, and also common on the emergent swamp forest trees, on branches more than above the ground. Collection from such heights is difficult.
Both the narrow fertile fronds and natural habitat of P.ridleyi suggest it should have bright light. The air movement it receives high in the trees must be nearly the best in the forest. Some who feel air movement is an important key to keeping it successfully. Most agree on loose, rather open moss. P.ridleyi should not be expected to tolerate cool temperatures. Insects, slugs, and snails are definitely problems on this ant-inhabited species. There is general agreement that P.ridleyi attracts insects. Rhizome rot as well has claimed many young plants.
Spore collection shows no specific difficulty, other than catching the spore patch as it is released. Sporeling growth rate information varies from those who consider it the very fastest Platyaerium, to those with plants barely 3 cm. (1 inches) tall, that are five years old. The differences are probably due to variations in levels of both light and fertilizer, the small five year old ones receiving the most light and least fertilizer. The sporelings have a tendency to form elongated rhizomes and few roots, so vitamin Bl treatments may be very important to them. Losses are heavy when the young sporophytes are transplanted, and among quickly grown, soft plants.
With a Platyaerium that remains fairly small, and produces no pups, there is a question of the plant's natural lifespan. For P.ridleyi this could be between 10 and 15 years.
As P.ridleyi gets older, the spaces between the shields cause the rhizome to become long. The danger of it breaking increases. It is not known if P. ridleyi can survive cutting back like is done with P.superbum.
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