The Visitors Center in Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii’s Big Island is in a cool tropical rainforest. Situated at 4000′ above sea level, the vegetation is lush and includes ferns of several varieties. Some ferns are only inches tall, struggling for survival in the volcanic rock. Others are up to 35 ft tall, the size of a small tree.
While walking to the visitor center, I came across a thick patch of ferns including a lot of new growth that Canadians like to call “fiddleheads” (see top photo). I’m not sure about this variety, but fiddleheads can make excellent eating. Regardless of their culinary value, I’m fond of walking in forests rich in ferns and visiting this one was a treat!
