Microlepia strigosa
| Microlepia strigosa | |
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File:Microlepia strigosa var. strigosa (5188218312).jpg
Microlepia strigosa var. strigosa (5188218312)
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M. strigosa
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| Microlepia strigosa (Thunb.) C.Presl.
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Microlepia strigosa, known as hay-scented fern, lace fern, rigid lace fern and palapalai in Hawaiian, is a fern indigenous to the Hawaiian islands and is also native to other parts of the tropics and subtropics including India and Malaysia.[1] This fern belongs to a group of about seventy Microlepia species in the bracken or hay-scented fern family (Dennstaedtiaceae). There are two indigenous species and a hybrid found in the main Hawaiian Islands. It is also known by the botanical names: Davallia hirta, Davallia setosa, Davallia strigosa, Dicksonia kaulfussiana, Dicksonia strigosa, Microlepia hirta, Microlepia setosa, Stenoloma tenuifolium, Trichomanes strigosum.[2] It has coarse, light to medium green fronds which can grow to more than 3 feet long.
Uses
Early Hawaiians used the fronds to decorate hula altars dedicated to Laka, goddess of hula.[3] The ferns were used as head lei (lei poʻo), neck lei (lei ʻāʻī), and wrist lei (lei kūpeʻe) and to provide a soft base against the skin.[4] The plants were used as a "cure for insanity"[5] It was also used to bathe in and young leaf fronds were fed to babies.[6]
References
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External links
- Plants for Hawaiian lei: Palapalai (accessed September 25, 2015)
- Hui ku Maoli Ola: Palapalai (accessed September 25, 2015)
- Bishop Museum Hawaiian Ethnobotany Online Database (accessed September 25, 2015)
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