Notes on Platycerium Desv. I. Nomenclature and Typification of the genus and species in Desvaux’s original publication of 1827

Because of their size Platyceriums are in herbaria represented mostly by fragmentary specimens; often only nest-fronds or foliage fronds are represented in a mostly mutilated form. This, and the difficulty of placing Plukenet’s pre-Linnean protologue and plate, the independent description of Platycerium alcicorne by both Willemet and Swartz, and the various interpretations of three of Desvaux’s four species, have led to great confusion on identity and typification. P. alcicorne Desv. (new name, 1827) is accepted as the correct name for the Madagascar and East African species. It is lectotypified by Plukenet’s phrase-name Neuroplatyceros, etc. of which the type specimen after which the plate was drawn is in the Sloane Herbarium, London. P. stemaria (Beauv.) Desv. is a species from West Africa; type material is in the De Jussieu Herbarium at Paris. P. angustatum Desv. is an Australian species of which the type is in the Paris Herbarium; its correct name is P. bifurcatum (Cav.) C. Chr.