Tree ferns form a dense and unbroken undercover. 



Hawaii, the younger stems and trunks were used in time of 

 famine for food. They were cut into sections a few feet in 

 length, and thoroughly steamed in the underground oven, imu, 

 or baked in hot ashes. The farinaceous interior was then re- 

 moved and eaten. In the vicinity of Kilauea there are many 

 volcanic steam cracks. These are turned to practical use for 

 steam-cooking the kapu stems, which nowadays are fed to 

 swine. The starchy core is quite nutritious, and under the 

 unique local conditions of free fuel from Vulcan's workshop 

 the hapu has proved to be a practicable and profitable hog-food. 



In certain parts of Hawaii where the tree ferns are abundant 

 and the soil soft and water-logged, the trunks are used for the 

 construction of corduroy roads and trails. The coarse fibres 



