Alexis wrote today's entry:
The endemic Hawaiian plant series continues today with this photo from Forest and Kim Starr, via Wikimedia Commons. Thank you, Forest and Kim!
The genus Cibotium belongs to Dicksoniaceae, a family of tropical ferns with trunk-like stems that dates back to the Triassic, between 251 and 199.6 million years ago. There are four Cibotium species native to Hawaii; all are endemic to the islands and all are called Hawaiian tree ferns or hapu'u. Cibotium menziesii can be found growing in the ground or as an epiphyte in moist or wet forests on all the major Hawaiian Islands. This species is sometimes called the "male tree fern", while Cibotium glaucum is called the "female tree fern", although they are two different species. Cibotium menziesii is the largest tree fern of Hawaii, ranging from about 2 to 8 m in height but sometimes growing over 10m tall.
Hawaiian tree ferns are known and valued for their pulu, the soft wool that covers the bases of the stipes. Traditionally, Hawaiians used this material to embalm bodies and dress wounds. It was also exported to California for use as pillow and mattress stuffing (Hillebrand's Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (1888)). In addition, the starch-filled core of the plant is eaten by wild pigs and is considered a famine food for humans. More pleasing to the taste buds are the fiddleheads or furled fronds, which can be boiled and eaten.
I am so enjoying the plants of Hawaii. Thank you Alex and Daniel. Are the wild pigs a serious threat to these plants?
Drs. Spatz & Mueller-Dombois studied the role of pigs on plants and vegetation of Island of Hawaii at the beginning of 1970's. They initiated further studies, e.g., Aplet et al.:
http://www.jstor.org/pss/20046030
Aplet et al. suggest "a strong relationship between feral pig activity and the composition of the alien portion of the plant community. Analysis of the ecologies of both plants and pigs suggests that some species may both encourage pig activity and benefit from it."
On the other hand, Aplet et al. also found that once the weedy plants get established, the pig removal "may have a negligible impact on the success of many of the common weeds in the area."
Great article and a lovley picture of this in situ. I hope these plants get the protection they deserve. Is their ecosystem threatened by introduced tree ferns species such as Cyathea cooperi?
Jon - yes. There are Australian Tree fern eradication efforts on Kauai, including using helicopters and paintball guns to shoot tiny bombs of herbicide into the crowns of invasive tree ferns growing on the cliffs. Some googling of "Australian Tree Fern Invasive Hawaii" should bring you reading material.