Gleichenia owhyhensis Hook.; Dicranopteris owhy· hensis (Hook.) W. J. Rob.; Gleichenia glauca (Sw.) Hook., non Sw.; G. hawaiiensis (Brack.) Hillebr.; Mertensia glauca Sw.; M. hawaiiensis Brack.

Common names: uluhe, unuhe

Endemic

From Owhyee, an archaic spelling for Hawai'i.

Pinnae 15-40 cm long. Ultimate segments 1.5-6+ cm long.

Occasional and locally common terrestrial fern, usually growing in tangled masses in wet forest, shrublands, and open areas, often in association with Dicranopteris linearis, usually at 900-1,740 m, all major islands (rare on O'ahu).

See· discussion under Dicranopteris for growth habit of this species. The growth pattern of Sticherus owhyhensis differs from that of Dicranopteris by having secondary rachises with pectinately arranged segments. The secondary rachises of Dicranopteris are devoid of segments.

Sticherus owhyhensis may be easily distinguished from Dicranopteris linearis by the presence of segments on the secondary rachises, 1-forked veins (versus veins forked 1-6 x), fewer sporangia in the sori (2-6 versus 8-15), and the preponderance of scales rather than hairs on the rhizomes and stipes.