Factors affecting seed germination of the Mauna Kea Silversword in Hawaii
- Author:
- Walker, Lawrence R., Powell, Elizabeth Ann
- Title:
- Factors affecting seed germination of the Mauna Kea Silversword in Hawaii
- Periodical:
- Pacific Science
- Year:
- 1995
- Volume:
- 49
- Pages:
- 205-211
- Subject:
- Silverswords Mauna Kea Argyroxiphium sandwicense ssp.sandwicense Ahinahina Germination
- Summary:
- The Mauna Kea silversword (MKSS), Argyroxiphium sandwicelzse DC, is a federally-listed endangered plant that is endemic to the slopes of Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaii. Once abundant, this giant rosette plant, (of the family Asteraceae), has been reduced to a total of less than 500 individuals. This document describes an experiment that was done when the germination of the silversword seeds were subjected to various experimental and field conditions. Under experimental conditions, the germination of the seeds was best in moist and shady environments. While the removal of the pericarp greatly enhanced the germination of the seeds, it was found that cold and heat pretreatments did not alter germination. Germination of field-collected seeds was highest in seeds that were less than two years old and in seeds that were collected from flower stalks. In addition, the ability to germinate was much lower for seeds that were collected from on, or under, the soil surface. It was also found that in mesic environments, grasses competed with silversword seedlings. As a result, this experiment suggested that seed germination and early seedling establishment were major obstacles in the reestablishment of the Mauna Kea silversword. However, as attempts are made to reestablish the MKSS, the recovery of this plant will allow it to be removed from the endangered species list as is mandated by the Endangered Species Act. Therefore, the Hawaii State Division of Forestry has conducted an extensive program that includes the outplanting of shadehouse-grown seedlings on Mauna Kea.
- Label:
- Silverswords
- URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/10125/2620
- Date:
- 1995
- Collection:
- Periodicals