Synonyms: Acrostichum aemulum Kaulf.; Aconiopteris gorgo· neum (Kaulf.) J. Sm.; Acrostichum gorgoneum Kaulf.; Acr. helleri Underw.; Elaphoglossum gorgoneum (Kaulf.) Brack.; E. helleri (Underw.) Christ; 0lfersia aemula (Kaulf.) C. Pres!; 0. gorgonea (Kaulf.) C. Pres! [?Hille-brand's Acrostichum gorgoneum ß var.]
Common names: 'ekaha, 'opeha, laukahi nunui (P. & E.)
Endemic
Latin aemulus, rivaling, vying with, equaling.
Plants medium-sized, usually epiphytic, occasionally terrestrial. Rhizomes short-creeping, completely obscured by a dense mat of long scales, 3-6.5 cm diam. with scales (4-6 mm diam. without scales), scales 1-3 cm long, elongate-triangular, twisted, light to dark brown, with curly tips. Stipes slender, not winged, glabrous. Sterile blades oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 20-45 cm long, coriaceous, glabrous, tips rounded to apiculate. Fertile blades narrowly elliptic to linear, apex acute. Veins parallel and free.
Common in moist forests, 300-1,400 m, all major islands except Hawai 'i, where it was collected only once around 1840.
Elaphoglossum aemulum may be recognized by its thick, dense mat of long, curly rhizome scales, and free veins. Plants growing on tree trunks often produce a characteristic wide shelf composed of rhizome scales, rhizomes, and organic debris.