Home > Plants > Asteraceae > Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. sandwicense

Created 1/15/2014

Family Asteraceae

HAWAII - ENDEMIC

Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. sandwicense

   
 

Mauna Kea State Park, Hawaii
   
   

MAUNA KEA SILVERSWORD    'AHINAHINA

Extremely rare in a single location on the upper slope of Mauna Kea.  Narrow leaves' silver hairs reflect UV radiation and gel-filled core stores moisture.  Blooms once then dies.  Threatened with extinction due to grazing, habitat alteration, trampling of delicate root system, and loss of natural pollinators.  The more common Haleakala Silversword occurs on Maui.  Flowers in each subspecies differ substantially.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argyroxiphium

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0903b.htm