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'Ahinahina (Silversword)

Argyroxiphium sandwicense

Description:

The Silversword is so endangered due to grazing animals (I dont know how tasty this plant could be...) so these silverswords up on Mauna Kea (8800-12300ft) are growing in an enclosure to keep the goats from eating them. They only flower once in their lifetime and the flower spike can reach 9 feet tall!! 'Ahinahina is a reference to their silver color and the Hawaiian goddess of the moon, Hina.

Habitat:

Upper elevations of Mauna Kea. 8,800 to 12,300 ft. Endures very harsh conditions of intense sun and very little rain ( and sometimes snow)

Notes:

Endangered.

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2 Comments

MaryIsis
MaryIsis 11 years ago

Krakatoa is a great study of succession! We can study succession all the time here on the Big Island because of our active lava flows. :)

alicelongmartin
alicelongmartin 11 years ago

I just finished reading Krakatoa so vegetation around Volcano's has been interesting.

MaryIsis
Spotted by
MaryIsis

Hawaiʻi, USA

Spotted on Feb 15, 2012
Submitted on Sep 18, 2012

Spotted for Mission

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