Polypodiaceae
Elkhorn fern
Platycerium bifurcatum
- Family
- Polypodiaceae
- Genus
- Platycerium
Pets and kids
- CatsSafe
- DogsSafe
- KidsSafe
Why
Cats: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to cats. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Common Staghorn Fern - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
- Platycerium bifurcatum (Common Staghorn Fern, Elkhorn Fern, Staghorn Fern) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox University or extension
Dogs: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to dogs. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Common Staghorn Fern - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
- Platycerium bifurcatum (Common Staghorn Fern, Elkhorn Fern, Staghorn Fern) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox University or extension
Kids: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- NON-TOXIC PLANT LIST - OHSU University or extension
Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.
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Common names
By language (12)
- Assamese
- পহু শিঙীয়া ঢেঁকীয়া
- Chinese
- 二歧鹿角蕨, 蝙蝠蕨, 鹿角蕨
- cv
- Пӑлан мӑйраки евӗрлӗ платицериум
- Dutch
- Hertshoornvaren
- English
- Elkhorn fern
- Finnish
- Hirvensarvisaniainen
- Indonesian
- Paku Tanduk Rusa
- Korean
- 박쥐란
- Persian
- سرخس شاخ گوزنی بیفورکاتوم
- Russian
- Платицериум оленерогий
- Swedish
- Älghornsbräken
- Tamil
- கலைமான் கொம்பு பெரணி
Synonyms
- Platycerium alcicorne var. lanciferum (Domin) F.M.Bailey
- Platycerium bifurcatum var. bifurcatum
- Platycerium bifurcatum var. normale Domin
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Forb/herb
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- In the US and Canada
- Hawaii: introduced
Photos
Photo: themaskedlapwing, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Karelj, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia, CC BY-SA 2.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Александровы АГ, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Александровы АГ, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Александровы АГ, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
More in Platycerium
- Staghorn fernPlatycerium superbumPolypodiaceae
- Platycerium alcicornePolypodiaceae
- Platycerium coronariumPolypodiaceae
- Platycerium grandePolypodiaceae
- Platycerium ridleyiPolypodiaceae
- Platycerium madagascariensePolypodiaceae
- Platycerium wallichiiPolypodiaceae
- Platycerium andinumPolypodiaceae
- Elkhorn fernPlatycerium hilliiPolypodiaceae
- Platycerium stemariaPolypodiaceae
- Platycerium veitchiiPolypodiaceae
- Platycerium holttumiiPolypodiaceae
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.