Cyatheaceae. 



Mctrosideros polymorpha or Ohio, lehua of the natives. Where these ferns grow 

 with a typical Oliia lehua forest, the soil is usually not deeper than 2 or 3 feet 

 at the most, below which we find the arched pahoehoe lava. 



The Ohia lehua is, however, not their only associate. In the older forests we 

 find them growing together with Cheirodendron Gaudichaudii (Olapa), Ilex 

 sandwicensis, Perrottetia sandwicensis (Olomea), and especially with Suttonia 

 Lessertiana (Kolea). In the drier or semi-wet forest we find it again with Aca- 

 cia Koa (Koa), while it can also be met with in a typical xerophytic forest, but 

 then only at an elevation of 4000 feet or so, and not at all common. Only a few 

 stragglers can be found scattered in these interesting dry regions. On Oahu the 

 Ha pit is much smaller than on Hawaii and not quite as common, as it never 

 forms pure stands or covers large tracts of land as is the case on Hawaii. 



On the Island of Kauai occurs a variety of this species named var. 3. by 

 Hillebrand, which differs from the species in its smaller frond, which is dull 

 glaucous underneath. 



The young stems of this species are farinaceous, and used to be eaten by the 

 natives in times of scarcity. They are baked in hot ashes and are then quite 

 palatable. 



The trunks of the Hapu, as well as of the Hapu Hi, are used for forest trails, 

 where they make an excellent pathway through the otherwise hardly-penetrable 

 swampy jungles. Portions of trunks, when used for fern trails, sprout usually 

 at one end, forming quite a handsome hedge of young fronds. The pulu wool, 

 which densely covers the base of the leafstalks, is glossy and of a fine, silky tex- 

 ture, and was used together with that of the Hapu Hi for stuffing pillows and 

 mattresses, and formed a regular article of export to California. According to 

 Hillebrand, the hairs consist of a single series of flat, thin-walled cells which 

 break readily at the joints. The cells are shorter in Cibotium Chamissoi. 



Cibotium glaucum is occasionally found with the other two species, but is 

 rather rare. All three species are peculiar to the Hawaiian Islands, outside of 

 which they have not been recorded. 



95 



