Microlepia strigosa var. strigosa

Description:

Palapalai or Hay-scented fernDennstaedtiaceaeIndigenous to the Hawaiian IslandsOahu (Cultivated)Soriwww.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/5187617809/in/datetaken-...These nicely scented ferns were used by early Hawaiians as head lei (lei poo), neck lei (lei ), and wrist lei (lei kpee). Palapalai was commonly used with other lei materials and also to provide a soft base against the skin of the wearer. Palapalai is still used today for lei as it was in the early days.Medicinally, early Hawaiians used the plants as psycological aid for insanity. It can also be used to bathe in. The slimyleaf fronds were fed to babies.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 strigosa is from the Latin strigosus, bristles or stiff hairs, in reference to the tiny rigid hairs on the fronds of this species.NPH00003nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Microlepia_strigosa_st...