Ekaha
Elaphoglossum paleaceum
Ekaha (Elaphoglossum paleaceum) is an endemic Hawaiian fern species characterized by its distinctive leathery, tongue-shaped fronds that are covered in silvery-brown scales on the undersides. This epiphytic fern plays an important ecological role in native Hawaiian forest ecosystems by contributing to canopy biodiversity and providing microhabitat for invertebrates and other small organisms.
26
Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Class
Polypodiopsida
Order
Polypodiales
Family
Dryopteridaceae
Genus
Elaphoglossum
Ekaha belongs to the family Dryopteridaceae, order Polypodiales, within the Polypodiopsida class.
Species Profile
Ekaha (Elaphoglossum paleaceum) is an endemic Hawaiian fern species characterized by its distinctive leathery, tongue-shaped fronds that are covered in silvery-brown scales on the undersides. This epiphytic fern plays an important ecological role in native Hawaiian forest ecosystems by contributing to canopy biodiversity and providing microhabitat for invertebrates and other small organisms.
Elaphoglossum paleaceum faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited range. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its restricted distribution and specialized habitat requirements in montane cloud forests.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Ekaha grows as an epiphyte on native tree trunks and branches in mesic to wet Hawaiian forests, typically at elevations between 300-1,200 meters. The species thrives in the humid, shaded understory of native ʻōhiʻa lehua and koa forests where consistent moisture and filtered light create optimal growing conditions.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Endangered
Elaphoglossum paleaceum faces severe threats from habitat destruction due to deforestation and agricultural expansion in its limited range. The species is particularly vulnerable due to its restricted distribution and specialized habitat requirements in montane cloud forests.
Agricultural expansion and land conversion
Deforestation and forest clearance
Limited range making populations vulnerable
Climate change affecting cloud forest conditions
Found in 26 Countries
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Ekaha (Elaphoglossum paleaceum). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/ekaha