Ferns

Yesterday’s post focused on plants that we don’t want.

Lest you think that we are surrounded by horrible, soul-sucking, evil plants, I thought I would balance things a bit with some information on the wonderful ferns in our area.

There are three main types: Hapu’u (Hawaiian tree fern), ‘Ama’u & ‘Uluhe (Pacific false stagehorn)

I have also seen other varieties that I haven’t identified yet.

More photos are on their way. Google's Blogger is messing with me an won't let me post. Investigation underway...
In the interim I have posted pics at this Kodak Gallery link: Fern Gallery

The hapu’u grows 15 to 20 feet tall. No joke about being called a “tree fern.” It is triple compounded. Took me a while to figure out what this meant. Basically, if you mark a path from the trunk to the tip of a leaf you will have three lines (make two turns).

The hapu’u is so elegant and beautiful it’s almost magical. This is the fern that brings a smile to my face when I look outside each morning. Yes, it really is that cool.

I hear that the hapu’u has been referred to as the mother of the forest. It provides shade to the under story plants, its roots provide a place for other plants to take hold and when its fronds die they mulch quickly, building the soil for other plants.

The ‘ama’u is smaller. The ones we have in our yard are about 5 to 6 feet tall. These are double compounded. Only one turn if you trace from the trunk to the tip of the leaf.

The ‘uluhe is small in frond size (maybe 6 inches), but it grows like a vine and can reach the tops of trees in a dense, entangled mass. Pretty, but a pain when you are … say … trying to string fencing through a forest.

All three of these ferns have beautiful, intricate fiddleheads (baby ferns).

And, as mentioned above, there's the ferns that I haven't been able to put a name to yet.