hapu'u
Cibotium glaucum (Sm.) Hook. & Arn.
Cibotium glaucum (Sm.) Hook. & Arn., known as hapu'u, is a tree fern in the family Cibotiaceae. Native to Hawaii, it grows up to 8 m tall and is hardy in USDA zones 10 to 12. The plant is known for its fiddleheads, which provide pulu, a material used traditionally by Hawaiian women for absorbent purposes.
Description
Cibotium glaucum is a slow-growing tree fern found in Hawaii. It is part of the Cibotiaceae family and is commonly called hapu'u. The plant typically reaches 6 to 10 ft in height, though it can grow up to 25 ft. The fiddleheads of C. glaucum are the source of pulu, a material used in traditional Hawaiian practices as a type of absorbent. The species was first described in 1832.
Other common names
hapu'uHawaiian tree fern
Distribution
Hawaii
Synonyms
Cibotium st-johniiDicksonia glauca
