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


VOL. V JUNE 1952 No. 1

(24-26) NIANIAU OR SWORD FERN

The sword fern is a familiar plant in tropical and sub-tropical areas. A common house fern, its scientific name, Nephrolepis, means "kidney-scale" in Greek. The fern was so named because the spore dots on the underside of the leaflets are protected by a kidney-shaped tissue called an indusium. In the Haleakala section, Puu Nianiau, the hill below the lodge, received its name from these ferns, which are also called "OKUPUKUPU." They are common in humid regions of the park, particularly in the vicinity of steam cracks near Kilauea. The three species illustrated have been found in the Park. Several large stands may be seen in Kipuka Puaulu (Bird Park).

ferns
NIANIAU or Sword Ferns. From the left, Narrow Swordfern, (25) Scaly Swordfern, (26), and Common Swordfern (24).

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