Roadtrip to Laguna last Monday. I was with Ronald and fern enthusiast Anthony to check out a tree they found flowering some months ago. The plant they were referring to was
Terminalia calamansanai (as identified by Leonard Co) or
malakalumpit, now with winged seed pods. Along the way we got to check out a household garden sporting large specimens of
Platycerium coronarium or staghorn fern. The fern used to be abundant in this part. Now they are reduced to very rare isolated specimens.
Platycerium coronarium is one of two recognized species of
staghorn ferns found native to the Philippines. The other is
P. grande which is endemic to Mindanao. They are called staghorn ferns because the pendulous fronds are shaped like the antlers of deer bucks.
P. coronarium ranges from Luzon to Palawan. It is threatened by over collection and habitat loss. If things progress as the way they are right now, there will come a time that these fern marvels will only be known as garden specimens.
Roadtrip to Laguna last Monday. I was with Ronald and fern enthusiast Anthony to check out a tree they found flowering some months ago. The plant they were referring to was 
Terminalia calamansanai (as identified by Leonard Co) or malakalumpit, now with winged seed pods. Along the way we got to check out a household garden sporting large specimens of 
Platycerium coronarium or staghorn fern. The fern used to be abundant in this part. Now they are reduced to very rare isolated specimens. 
Platycerium coronarium is one of two recognized species of 
staghorn ferns found native to the Philippines. The other is P. grande which is endemic to Mindanao. They are called staghorn ferns because the pendulous fronds are shaped like the antlers of deer bucks. 
P. coronarium ranges from Luzon to Palawan. It is threatened by over collection and habitat loss. If things progress as the way they are right now, there will come a time that these fern marvels will only be known as garden specimens. 
3 comments:
congratulations on a very interesting blog. did you know that Leonard Co passed away last night. he was my orgmate at the UP Mountaineers. pls pray for his family at this sad time.thanks
I was in his wake last night. He is a very good friend and a great mentor.
Thank you for this blog and finally my curiosity is satisfied. I have been so fascinated with ferns. And I was in Calaruega and saw a tree with this extraordinarily shaped and sized leaf hanging on a tree. It's great to know the name now and even to know that this Staghorn is native to the Philippines. Would you be able to confirm it though with my photo? This is link URL: https://z-n.ak.fbcdn.net/sphotos-b.ak/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1.0-9/1662612_1529854397240224_671296126_n.jpg Maraming Salamat po! Also, I actually came across your blog because I was trying to satisfy another curiosity of mine but this time I wanted to know how a Nito or Black Fern look like. Do you have a photo of it? Salamat uli! Atlas M. Amante
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