HAWAII NATURE NOTES
THE PUBLICATION OF THE
NATURALIST DIVISION, HAWAII NATIONAL PARK
AND THE HAWAII NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION

(4) ULUHE OR FALSE STAGHORN

An attractive native fern which often becomes a pest by choking out other plants is the ULUHE, common in openings throughout the eastern half of the park. This fern often forms thickets so dense as to be virtually impenetrable. Seeds of native plants which germinate beneath these thickets may not be able to penetrate to sunlight. A fire hazard is also presented by the dried fronds. An infusion was prepared from the ULUHE, which the Hawaiians drank as an emetic, according to Fowler (4, p. 10). Hillebrand (5, p. 545) states that this fern is "common on all islands from 600 feet above the sea (Hilo district) to 3,000 feet. ... The species occurs in most tropical countries of both hemispheres and in many islands of the Pacific."

ULUHE or False Staghorn. D&M, (4).