"Platycerium willinckii (wil-lin-key-eye) is sometimes called Java Staghorn. Native to Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Closely related to P. bifurcatum but the shield fronds are different by being very tall and may be deeply lobed. They quickly turn brown and as they decay a mesh of veins is left standing as pictured right. The fertile fronds grow edgewise at the bud and then turn horizontal and hang down. Many P. willinckii have about 12 fertile fronds growing from the bud while bifurcatum only have 6. They have more hair on the underside of the fertile fronds. The white hair shields it from high heat and water loss. With the whitish hair, the fertile fronds provide a stark contrast between the brown shield fronds and the green fertile fronds.
Some P. willinckii develop a wide, flat group of pointed, curved fingers at the ends of the fertile fronds. Those with very long fertile fronds are possibly the extreme form of the natural population, but they are also the most distinctive for the hobbyist. The fertile frond length is affected somewhat by its environment and how many are allowed to develop."
Learn more about Platycerium willinckii here.
