Microlepia speluncae

Description:

Limpleaf fern or Palai nui*Dennstaedtiaceae (Bracken family)Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, West Maui and Hawaii Island)Oahu (Cultivated); Oahu originA crosier or fiddlehead arising from the soil.This graceful species commonly known as Limpleaf fern, is very similar in appearance to palapalai (Microlepia strigosa) used in Hawaiian lei. But picking the fronds is a quick way to determine which species is which. The fronds of the limpleaf fern, as its name suggests, go limp soon after being picked, whereas palapalai do not. For this reason while palapalai is greatly used in haku, the limpleaf fern is not useable for lei making.EtymologyThe generic name Microlepia is derived from the Greek mikros, small, and lepis, scale, alluding to the small cuplike indusia (spore covering) of this genus.The specific epithet speluncae is from the Latin, spelunca, cave, grotto or den, perhaps named for the first habitat where it was collected._____* While there is no known Hawaiian name for this species, Pala nui has been used locally for this fern. Palai nui means "big fern."nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Microlepia_speluncae