Polypodiaceae
Plant Profile
Platycerium hillii
(plat-ih-SEER-ee-um ) (hil-lii)
Subfamily Platycerioideae
Genus Platycerium
“The Platycerium hillii is native to Queensland, Australia. Typically the shield fronds are roundish or kidney shaped. The shields grow close together, tightly pressed, into layers of old fronds. Top edge is wavy or shallow lobed. The shield fronds grow in fall and winter months. Because the shield frond grow close to its mounting, getting water to the root ball can be challenging. P. Hillii collect water in the fertile fronds at night time from evening dew. Possibly this species normally grows in a wet region and the shield fronds limit the amount of water entering the root ball or rizhome preventing rot.
The fertile fronds are erect with long wedge-shaped base and a broad top. May be dark green or light green in color depending upon the amount of light, with vertical pronounced veins. The tops are waxy with fuzzy hair on the underside. Spore patches form on the underside of tips.” – Halling
“The native range of this species is NE. Queensland. It is an epiphyte.” – Kew
Queensland
Origin Map from Kew Royal Botanic Gardens