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Hawai'i silversword
Scientific Name: Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp. macrocephalum
Family: Asteraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Shrub
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Hawai'i Silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense)
The Hawai'i silversword, scientifically known as Argyroxiphium sandwicense, is a striking plant endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian name for the silversword is '?hinahina.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Argyroxiphium sandwicense DC.
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Taxonomic Rank: Subspecies
- Synonyms: Argyroxiphium macrocephalum A. Gray.
- Common Names: Hawai'i silversword, '?hinahina, Mauna Kea silversword
Distribution and Habitat
- The silversword is native to the islands of Maui and Hawai'i (Big Island).
- Specific locations include the slopes of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, as well as Haleakal? on Maui.
- They are found at high elevations, typically above 6000 feet, in alpine shrublands and scrub vegetation.
Morphological Characteristics
- The silverswords form a ball-shaped rosette of silvery leaves.
- They produce a tower of tiny pink flowers when they bloom.
Ecological Role
- The silversword family occupies diverse terrestrial habitats in Hawai'i, from wet and dry forests to alpine regions.
- Climate change and lower rainfall are potential threats to the silversword populations.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- The silversword is studied by researchers at the University of Hawai'i to understand the effects of changes in temperature and precipitation.
Further Information
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