Trichomanes davallioides Gaudich.; T. radicans sensu W. J. Rob., non Sw.; T. sandvicense Bosch

Common names: palai hihi (creeping palm), kilau

Endemic

Davallia, for a fern genus, + -aides, resembling, probably suggesting that the indusia resemble those of that genus.

Plants medium-sized, terrestrial to epi-phytic. Rhizomes climbing, 1-3 mm diam., heavily covered with fine, black hairs. Fronds erect to drooping, 12-45 x 4-18 cm. Stipes short, usually less than 1/5 frond length, with fine, dark hairs on younger stipes. Blades 2-to 3-pinnate, lanceolate, narrowed at bases, green to gray green, stiff-membranous. Pinnae lanceolate to long-deltate, middle pinnae mostly 2-3 x longer than wide. Ultimate segments ovate-lanceolate, obtuse, deeply lobed, lobes tipped with obtuse teeth. Sori projecting within plane of blade. Indusia long, cone-shaped, sessile to stalked, tips more or less flared.

Common creeping or climbing terrestrial to epiphytic fern in shaded mesic and wet forests, 250-1,800 m, all major islands.

Vandenboschia davallioides may be distinguished by stipes that are usually less than 1/5 the length of the frond; by light green to gray green fronds narrowing at the bases; and stalked, cone-shaped indusia flared at the tips. It may be distinguished from V. cyrtotheca by its shorter stipes and lanceolate rather than triangular blades that do not bend backward at stipe tips.