Argyroxiphium sandwicensesubsp.macrocephalum(A.Gray ) Meyrat
Haleakala Silversword , East Maui Silversword
Argyroxiphium macrocephalum , Argyroxiphium sandwicensevar.macrocephalum , Dubautia sandwicensissubsp.macrocephala
Photo viawikipedia.org
Family : AsteraceaeSubfamily : AsteroideaeTribe : MadieaeGenus : genus Argyroxiphium
genus Argyroxiphium sandwicensesubsp.macrocephalumis a beautiful , single - stemmed plant life that forms typical , globular rosettes of legion brand - like , inflexible , and succulent foliage covered with silver hair . The leaf are usually three - angled in crossbreed - section , up to 16 in ( 10 centimetre ) long and 0.6 inch ( 1.5 cm ) wide .
This race has a more elliptical - looking inflorescence thanArgyroxiphium sandwicensesubsp.sandwicense , which is thicker .
A arresting , up to 10 feet ( 3 m ) tall flower spike , with up to 600 heads of densely packed pallid red to maroon flowers , appears after 15 to 50 year . Each blossom head has 11 to 42 petal - like ray florets and 50 to 600 flyspeck disk florets . Fruits are up to 0.6 inches ( 1.5 curium ) long achene . The plant is monocarpic , which means the rosette dies after the seeds ripen .
genus Argyroxiphium sandwicensesubsp.macrocephalumis autochthonous toHawaii . It occurs at elevation between 7,000 and 10,000 substructure ( 2,130 and 3,050 m ) in the Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui .
USDA hardiness zone10a to 10b : from 30 ° F ( −1.1 ° C ) to 40 ° F ( +4.4 ° C ) .
The Silversword bond comprises about 50 species of plant belong to three genus endemic to the Hawaiian islands . They get their common name from the visually impressive Silversword .
These plants only flower once in their lifetime . The silver rosettes farm for several years before the efflorescence ascends skywards . blossom appear from mid - June to November , and the whole plant life dies after the seeds have been shed . These alien - front plant are ideally accommodate to their harsh environment . The silver gray leaf think over the sunshine ’s rays while their embodiment prevents moisture loss and protects the more delicate center of the flora from predation .
These attractive plants were antecedently collected as curiosities . Climbers on the great deal would dig them up to prove they had reached the summit . population were further eat by browsing and trample by goats and cattle in the area . TodayArgyroxiphium sandwicenseis restricted to a unmarried universe of as few as 30 plants in the Wailuku River basin on Mauna Kea in Hawaii . These plants are at risk from the diminished size and compass of their population , which is vulnerable to any chance event .
The Hawai’i Silversword is protected in Hawaii .
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