ALIEN FERNS IN HAWAI'I

In 1950 Diplazium esculentum (Retzius) Swartz [Syn. Athyrium esculentum (Retzius) Copeland], Edible Fern, had a very limited distribution in Hawai'i. Wagner reported having seen it on Maui. The first collection of it was made in 1910 on Kaua'i (Faurie 154) as reported by Copeland (1914) . This species is from southeastern Asia and the Pacific and is the most commonly eaten of all ferns. Its caudex often reaches a height of 1.5 meters. It is currently found on all of the larger islands except Moloka'i; its absence on the latter may simply reflect the failure of collectors to take a specimen of this weedy fern. Diplazium esculentum grows in large stands in wet areas, such as along stream banks; for instance, it occurs abundantly in valleys along the Hamakua Coast of Hawai'i and in wet areas of Pu'u 'Ohi'a and Manoa Valley, O'ahu.