Render strands as view facing triangle strips - how to use UV and apply textures?

[pauldrummond]

When rendering strands as view facing triangle strips how can I apply textures to these? The HairVertex node provides 'strandUV' but using this to apply a texture doesn't give the expected result. For example, I'd like to apply alpha to the strands, fading them out at the end. I hoped a vertical gradient texture would do the trick, but it didn't work.

What UV layout do the strands use, and how do we get textures onto them?

Any help is much appreciated.

[fuglsang]

Labeling as documentation request.