Queen Staghorn Fern (Platycerium wandae)

Platycerium wandae is a large epiphytic fern in the family Polypodiaceae, native to New Guinea. Sometimes called the queen staghorn, it is considered the largest species in the genus, growing about 30 percent larger than P. superbum, and belongs to the group of giant species with P. superbum, P. grande, P. wallichii and P. holttumii. Three features identify it. First, the shield fronds stand almost vertically and are lobed along the top to form a basket. Second, frill-like outgrowths appear around the growing bud and along the shield edges, which are said to be absent in P. grande and P. holttumii. Third, each fertile frond divides into two lobes, a smaller upper one and a larger lower one, each bearing a brown spore patch, with longer straps hanging from the lower lobe. Compared with P. superbum (one patch in the first fork) and P. grande (two patches side by side on each divided lobe), the stacked arrangement of the patches sets it apart. Among the giant species it is said to produce fertile fronds at a younger age. It does not form pups. It likes warmth, high humidity and bright filtered shade. Scholarly descriptions of this species are scarce, and hobbyist identification guides are the main source of information. In Japan it is a popular species handled by specialist nurseries.

The Queen Staghorn Fern (Platycerium wandae) grows to Considered the largest in the genus, about 30% larger than P. superbum; few primary measurements exist.

Little data on feeding; in the wild, leaf litter trapped by the shield fronds decomposes to supply nutrients