[1] This fern belongs to a group of about seventy Microlepia species in the bracken or hay-scented fern family (Dennstaedtiaceae).

There are two indigenous species and a hybrid found in the main Hawaiian Islands.

It is also known by the botanical names: Davallia hirta, Davallia setosa, Davallia strigosa, Dicksonia kaulfussiana, Dicksonia strigosa, Microlepia hirta, Microlepia setosa, Stenoloma tenuifolium, Trichomanes strigosum.

[2] It has coarse, light to medium green fronds which can grow to more than 3 ft (0.9 m) long.

[5] It was also used to bathe in and young leaf fronds were fed to babies.