About Microlepia strigosa (Thunb.) C.Presl
Microlepia strigosa is commonly known by the common names hay-scented fern, lace fern, rigid lace fern, and palapalai. This fern species is indigenous to the Hawaiian islands, and also native to other tropical and subtropical regions including India and Malaysia. It is part of the genus Microlepia, a group of roughly 70 species in the Dennstaedtiaceae family, also called the bracken or hay-scented fern family. In the main Hawaiian Islands, there are two indigenous Microlepia species and one recorded hybrid. This species has several previously published synonyms: Davallia hirta, Davallia setosa, Davallia strigosa, Dicksonia kaulfussiana, Dicksonia strigosa, Microlepia hirta, Microlepia setosa, Stenoloma tenuifolium, and Trichomanes strigosum. Its fronds are coarse, and range from light to medium green in color, and can reach over 3 feet (0.9 meters) in length. Early Hawaiians had multiple traditional uses for Microlepia strigosa. They used its fronds to decorate hula altars dedicated to Laka, the goddess of hula. The fern fronds were used to make head lei (lei poʻo), neck lei (lei ʻāʻī), and wrist lei (lei kūpeʻe), and created a soft base that rested against the skin. The plant was traditionally believed to be a cure for insanity. It was also used for bathing, and young fronds were fed to babies.
