Cibotium glaucum, the hāpu‘u pulu, is a species of fern in the family Cyatheaceae, native to Hawaii.[2][1] A slow-growing tree fern typically 6 to 10 ft (2 to 3 m) tall but reaching 25 ft (8 m), it is hardy in USDA zones 10 through 12.[3][2] Its fiddleheads are the source of the material pulu, which means "mulch" or "padding" in the Hawaiian language.[4] Women used pulu as an absorbent during their menstrual cycles.[5]

Cibotium glaucum
At the Jardin botanique de Lyon
Fiddlehead
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Division: Polypodiophyta
Class: Polypodiopsida
Order: Cyatheales
Family: Cibotiaceae
Genus: Cibotium
Species:
C. glaucum
Binomial name
Cibotium glaucum
Synonyms[1]
  • Cibotium st-johnii Krajina
  • Dicksonia glauca Sm.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Cibotium glaucum (Sm.) Hook. & Arn". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b Marcus, Joseph A. (8 May 2015). "Cibotium glaucum (Sm.) Hook. & Arn". Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Retrieved 11 November 2023. Hawaiian Tree Fern, Hapu'U Pulu, Blonde Tree Fern, Female Tree Fern
  3. ^ "Cibotium glaucum". Plant Finder. Missouri Botanical Garden. 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  4. ^ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert (2003). "lookup of pulu". in Hawaiian Dictionary. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved 20 October 2010.
  5. ^ Mary Kawena Pukui; Samuel Hoyt Elbert (2003). "lookup of pe'a". in Hawaiian Dictionary. Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library, University of Hawaii Press. Retrieved 20 October 2010.