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I've been waiting some
time for this phenomena to happen. It is noted that if you grow enough
ferns in your collection, you are bound to get sporophytes growing on other
ferns. However, this sporophyte, Ophioglossum pendulum, that
was unseen until it emerged from the shield fronds of Platycerium
holttumii, is a welcomed sight. This P. holttumii is
approximately 30 years old, one of the first staghorns in my collection. I
have only been growing O. pendulum, the Ribbon fern, for
approximately 8 years. So, with the introduction of the Ribbon Fern to my
collection (on my screened patio in South Florida), as spores were naturally
released from the Ophioglossum, they would inevitably land somewhere
hospitable to grow. Apparently, the shield (base) fronds of this staghorn,
proved to be suitable. Growing O. pendulum from spores is a
tricky proposition. It is believed that these spores require darkness and
a mycorrhizal fungus in order to germinate and survive. Both of these fern
species are of Southeast Asian origin. In the jungles of S. E. Asia,
I have seen O. pendulum growing comfortably in the base of
Asplenium nidus, and in another staghorn, Platycerium coronarium,
I was unaware that it could also grow in P. holttumii. My
travels have taken me to many parts of Southeast Asia and I have seen other
staghorns in the wild, I have not seen P. holtumii in the
wild (yet).
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