Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa silversword: alive and perpetuating

Author:

Landgraf, Libert K.

Title:

Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa silversword: alive and perpetuating

Periodical:

Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden Bulletin

Year:

1973

Volume:

3

Pages:

64-66

Subject:

Silverswords Mauna Kea Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp.sandwicense Ahinahina Silverswords Mauna Loa

Summary:

On the islands of Maui and Hawaii, there are three species of silversword. While the Argyroxiphium sandwicense is present on both islands, the A. Kauense is present only on the island of Hawaii, and the A. caliginii is only present on the island of Maui. While the Argyroxiphium sandwicense was once abundant in Maui's Haleakala Crater, concern was once expressed that this species of plant was diminishing even though it was protected. However, based on the estimates of the time, the numbers of this plant was placed at approximately 10,000 individual plants. As a result, while this number does not make the species bountiful, this silversword was far from endangered. Likewise, concern was also expressed that the silversword population might be disappearing on the island of Hawaii. However, attempts to determine the silversword population on the island showed that the species was "alive and perpetuating" as surveys pinpointed three major areas where these plants were growing in the wild. On Mauna Kea, the Argyroxiphium sandwicense was found between the 9,000 and 10,000 foot elevation of the Wailuku River Canyon where this species was once thought to have been lost. On Mauna Loa, the Argyroxiphium Kauense was found between the 8,000 and 9,000 foot elevation of Kapapala and at the 6,000 foot elevation in a lava flow that is adjacent to the land of Kahuku.

Label:

Silverswords

Date:

1973

Collection:

Periodicals