Author
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Pemberton, Robert |
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Submitted to: American Fern Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/20/2003 Publication Date: 12/20/2003 Citation: Pemberton, R.W. 2003. The common staghorn fern, platycerium bifurcatum, naturalizes in southern florida. American Fern Journal. Interpretive Summary: Most invasive plants including are of horticultural origin. Some of the most severe weeds such as Lygodium micropyllum, Lygodium japonicum and Salvinia molesta are ferns that were introduced as ornamental plants. Because of the propensity of ferns to become bad environmental weeds, it is important to document incipient naturalizations of ferns. The common staghorn fern, Platycerium bifurcatum is naturalizing in native oak forests in Broward County in southeastern Florida. Because this fern has the ability to tolerate the levels of drought and cold weather that color periodically in the area, this naturalization is expect to persist. The naturalized populations of this fern should be monitored and controlled if they grow. Technical Abstract: The common staghorn fern (Platycerium bifurcatum is a common ornamental in Florida which is native to Australia, New Guinea and Indonesia. Plants of this fern have colonized trees in both residential and native live oak forests in Broward County in southeastern Florida. The plants colonizing trees in residential areas are considered to be local spread from cultivated plants in nearby trees, but the plants colonizing native forests are thought to be part of the incipient naturalization. This naturalization is expected to persist because the some of the colonizing plants are reproducing and the species appears to be able to tolerate the cold and drought which occur periodically in the region. |
