Plants of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Scientific Name Dicranopteris linearis
Family Gleicheniaceae
Other Names uluhe, false staghorn fern
Status Indigenous
Distribution & Habitat Mats of this fern cover open ridge areas, steep cliffs sides and devastated forest areas in moist regions of all the major islands (Carlquist 1980: 326).
Locations in this Guide Devil's Throat, Puimau Hot Spot, Ola`a Forest, Sulphur Bank, Observatory, Park Headquarters, Mid-Elevation Woodland
General Appearance
This mat forming fern is a very abundant species in many communities such as the mid-elevation woodland and sulphur banks.

It can climb to 7 m or more when supported by a tree trunk (Stone and Pratt 1994: 148).  You can see this climbing habit in the picture below-left.

It is easily recognized from a distance by its characteristic yellow green leaves (Carlquist 1980: 304).  He further describes this plant as having "trailing underground stems [and] wiry leaf stalks."

 Sulfur Banks

Thurston Lava Tube (along highway)

 Olaa Forest
Leaves
The leaves are rather large and are forked. Sulfur Banks
Sulphur Banks
Sulfur Banks
Sulphur Banks
Sulphur Banks

Spores
Sporangia are found without protective flap (indusium). Sulphur Banks
Phenology
Natural History It is a shade intolerant species (Stone and Pratt 1994: 148).
Conservation The thick mat of dead uluhe can become a fire hazard if they become dry (Stone and Pratt 1994: 148).

Carlquist (1980: 304) believes that uluhe indicates are area of forest that has been destroyed by grazing, landslides or human activity.
Miscellaneous Photos
Early morning clouds have left water on these young developing fronds.  Small hairs on the fronds contribute to this process. Sulphur Banks
Sulphur Banks Sulphur Banks
These plants die and hold a lot of organic matter in their dense mat.  This can be a fire hazard in areas where the mat becomes dry.  Stone and Pratt (1994: 148) note that the dry ferns, especially as they become piled high, can carry a fire into the canopy of a native forest with devastating affects.

Sulphur Banks

 Sulphur Banks
Other Notes The two-spotted leaf hopper has killed this species on other island, but does not appear to be impacting the plants in the Park (Stone and Pratt 1994: 148).
References
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Last Updated: 08/05/03