Palapalai
Names
- ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi: Palapalai
- Scientific: Microlepia strigosa var. strigosa
Conservation Status
- Apparently Stable
Species Information
Palapalai is indigenous to the Hawaiian islands and is in the bracken or hay scented fern family Dennstaedtiaceae. There are two indigenous species and a hybrid found on the main Hawaiian islands. It has light to medium green fronds which can grow to more than 0.9 m (3 ft) long. Early Hawaiians used the fronds to decorate hula alters and the ferns as head lei, neck lei, and wrist lei (Nagata, 1992; . McDonald, 2003). It was also used to bathe in. Young leaf fronds were fed to babies (Kaaiakamanu, 1917).
Distribution
Palapalai is found on all Hawaiian islands except Ni’ihau and Kaho’olawe.
Habitat
Found in shady, moist habitats from 230 to 1830 m (70 to 557 ft) (“Palapalai, Palai,” n.d.).
Threats
- Competition with alien invasive plants
- Damage from trampling by feral ungulates
References & Additional Resources
Kaaiakamanu, D. M.; Chun, Malcolm Nāea. 1917. Native Hawaiian medicine. Vol. III (2003 translation ed.). Honolulu: First People’s Productions
McDonald, Marie A. 2003. Nā lei makamae = The treasured lei. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press.
Nagata, Kenneth M. 1992. How to plant a native Hawaiian garden. Honolulu: Hawaii State Office of Environmental Quality Control.
“Palapalai, Palai.” Bishop Museum – Ethnobotany Database, https://data.bishopmuseum.org/ethnobotanydb/ethnobotany.php?b=d&ID=palapalai.
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