Ngā Rauropi Whakaoranga

Hymenophyllum polyanthus, Mecodium rufescens

piripiri

scented fern

Leaves used as scent (Best 1942).

Used to scent oil, perfume (Colenso 1868a). A very strong-smelling species ... "dried specimens not only retain their powerful odour, but impart it to the drying papers" (Colenso 1891b).

Smells when dried and frequently stains paper dark brown or yellow ( Brownsey & Smith-Dodsworth 2000)

See Riley 1994 for information on medicinal uses of related plants elsewhere in the world.