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, about 12 inches from tip to tip, is provided space to grow to full potential on a 2+ foot hapuʻu (tree fern) stump in my fern garden. These magnificent ferns naturally grow as terrestrial, lithophytes or epiphytes.
The potting media used in the hapuʻu log is comprised of equal parts coconut chunks, perlite, sphagnum and hapuʻu fiber. The hapuʻu log is then placed on a one-inch pipe sticking out about 10 inched from a heavy hollow tile filled with concrete. This will create the weight needed to keep the hapuʻu log from toppling over from wind or weight of the ʻēkaha as it grows larger. The whole structure is about 3 feet off the ground and should allow room for the ʻēkaha to grow out to itʻs full potential. Additional heavy rocks are placed around the base for more stability.
ʻŌkupukupu or niaʻaniʻau (Nephrolepis exaltata subsp. hawaiiensis), Hawaiʻi's native ʻBoston Fern', is seen here growing in the area.
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.
Newly planted ʻēkaha growing as a terrestrial
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/46695776345/in/photolist...
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, about 12 inches from tip to tip, is provided space to grow to full potential on a 2+ foot hapuʻu (tree fern) stump in my fern garden. These magnificent ferns naturally grow as terrestrial, lithophytes or epiphytes.
The potting media used in the hapuʻu log is comprised of equal parts coconut chunks, perlite, sphagnum and hapuʻu fiber. The hapuʻu log is then placed on a one-inch pipe sticking out about 10 inched from a heavy hollow tile filled with concrete. This will create the weight needed to keep the hapuʻu log from toppling over from wind or weight of the ʻēkaha as it grows larger. The whole structure is about 3 feet off the ground and should allow room for the ʻēkaha to grow out to itʻs full potential. Additional heavy rocks are placed around the base for more stability.
ʻŌkupukupu or niaʻaniʻau (Nephrolepis exaltata subsp. hawaiiensis), Hawaiʻi's native ʻBoston Fern', is seen here growing in the area.
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.
Newly planted ʻēkaha growing as a terrestrial
www.flickr.com/photos/dweickhoff/46695776345/in/photolist...
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.