This fern looks much like the hapu'u, though the fronds are simple and unbranched Young fronds are often tinged with red or pink as they The 'ama'u also has a starchy core and the plant may grow to 10 feet in height. The crater Hale ma'uma'u is said to have gotten its name from a legendary event in which a deity took the 'ama'u fern as a body form to protect himself from the fires of Pele. Halema'uma'u means "house surrounded by the ama'u.