Asplenium nidus
ʻĒkaha, ʻĒkaha kuahiwi or Bird's nest fern
Aspleniaceae (Spleenwort family)
Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (all islands except Niʻihau & Koʻoholawe)
Oʻahu (Cultivated; Oʻahu origin)
Newly planted young ʻēkaha, barely 10 inches from tip to tip, is provided space to grow to full potential in the rich soil of my fern garden. These magnificent naturally ferns grow as terrestrial, lithophytes or epiphytes.
New ʻēkaha growing as an epiphyte
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/47397051222/in/photolist...
Mature ʻēkaha
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/12073042346/in/photolist...
Hawaiian Name
ʻĒkaha kuahiwi means "mountain ʻēkaha."
The dark midribs of ʻēkaha fronds were woven by early Hawaiians into lau hala mats and other objects of lau hala to provide pattern and color contrast.
The ferns were ceremonially planted to cover residual stumps after a tree had been felled for canoe (waʻa) making.
Medicinally, a liquid made from ʻēkaha leaf shoots and mixed with other plants was used to treat children and infants with ʻea or thrush and pāʻaoʻao, a disease which physically weakens. Shoots with other plants were pounded and liquid squeezed into mouths of children with mouth sores or general weakness. An ointment was also made from the leaves and mixed with other ingredients and liquid was used for ulcers or body sores (pūhō kolokolo kokoʻole).
Etymology
The genus name Asplenium is from the Latin asplenum, spleenwort. Ancient Greeks believed that this fern could cure spleen diseases.
The Latin specific epithet nidus, nest, in reference to the nest-like appearance of this fern. Interestingly, besides being terrestrial, as shown in the above photo, this fern is found as an epiphyte, perhaps giving the impression of a bird's nest among the branches.
Asplenium nidus
ʻĒkaha, ʻĒkaha kuahiwi or Bird's nest fern
Aspleniaceae (Spleenwort family)
Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands (all islands except Niʻihau & Koʻoholawe)
Oʻahu (Cultivated; Oʻahu origin)
Newly planted young ʻēkaha, barely 10 inches from tip to tip, is provided space to grow to full potential in the rich soil of my fern garden. These magnificent naturally ferns grow as terrestrial, lithophytes or epiphytes.
New ʻēkaha growing as an epiphyte
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/47397051222/in/photolist...
Mature ʻēkaha
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/12073042346/in/photolist...
Hawaiian Name
ʻĒkaha kuahiwi means "mountain ʻēkaha."
The dark midribs of ʻēkaha fronds were woven by early Hawaiians into lau hala mats and other objects of lau hala to provide pattern and color contrast.
The ferns were ceremonially planted to cover residual stumps after a tree had been felled for canoe (waʻa) making.
Medicinally, a liquid made from ʻēkaha leaf shoots and mixed with other plants was used to treat children and infants with ʻea or thrush and pāʻaoʻao, a disease which physically weakens. Shoots with other plants were pounded and liquid squeezed into mouths of children with mouth sores or general weakness. An ointment was also made from the leaves and mixed with other ingredients and liquid was used for ulcers or body sores (pūhō kolokolo kokoʻole).
Etymology
The genus name Asplenium is from the Latin asplenum, spleenwort. Ancient Greeks believed that this fern could cure spleen diseases.
The Latin specific epithet nidus, nest, in reference to the nest-like appearance of this fern. Interestingly, besides being terrestrial, as shown in the above photo, this fern is found as an epiphyte, perhaps giving the impression of a bird's nest among the branches.