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Palaʻā or Chinese creepingfern Lindsaeaceae Indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands ʻAiea Loop Trail, Oʻahu   Early Hawaiians used the old fronds of palaʻā to make a dark brownish-red (palaʻā) dye for kapa.  Palaʻā was also used as a medicine for various female disorders. The plant is boiled as a tea and drunk. It was also used to bathe in for puʻupuʻu ʻōhune (lump skin rash) or puʻu nunui (large or many bumps), and to wash pūhō (abscess, burst sore, ulcer), pehu (swelling), and pala (gonorrhea).  Lei makers used the fronds to make fine-textured lei haku and for other lei material such as lei haku providing a soft and comfortable base for wearers.  NPH00006 nativeplants.hawaii.edu/plant/view/Sphenomeris_chinensis