Common names: hoe a Maui ("Maui's paddle"), 'ekaha 'ula ( 'ula, red)

Endemic                  

Latin pellucidus, clear, transparent, in reference to the character of the fronds.

Plants small to medium-sized, terrestrial, epipetric or epiphytic, vinelike. Rhizomes long-creeping, less than 2 mm diam., bearing many thin, stiff, light to dark brown scales, 2-3 mm long, older rhizomes naked. Stipes thin, well separated, straw-colored, shiny, not winged, bearing many pellucid, amber colored glands. Sterile blades narrowly to widely elliptic, 6-25 cm long, thin, translucent, delicate, chartaceous, glabrous, tips acuminate to attenuate, both surfaces covered with small, shiny, pellucid, globular, amber colored glands (sticky on living plants). Fertile blades usually much smaller than sterile ones, sometimes longer and with small blades on long stipes. Veins prominent, forked, parallel, free. Uncommon in moist forests, 450-1,270 m, all major islands except Lana 'i.

Elaphoglossum pellucidum is a terrestrial, epiphytic or epipetric, vinelike fern with long-creeping rhizomes often winding around tree trunks or rocks. It may be distinguished from all other Hawaiian Elaphoglossum species by its well-separated, very thin, translucent fronds; prominent veins; and prominent, globular, sticky glands.