Hawaiʻi silversword facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hawaiʻi silversword |
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|---|---|
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| Haleakala silversword (A. sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum) | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Argyroxiphium
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| Species: |
sandwicense
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The Hawaiʻi silversword, also known as hinahina, is a special plant found only in Hawaii. It's a type of silversword, which means it has shiny, silver-colored leaves. This plant is very rare and is protected by law.
There are two main kinds, or subspecies, of the Hawaiʻi silversword. Each kind lives on a different mountain. Both are facing serious threats.
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Types of Hawaiʻi Silversword
Haleakala Silversword
The Haleakala silversword (A. sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum) grows on the mountain Haleakalā. This mountain is on the island of Maui. You can find it high up, more than 2,100 meters (about 6,900 feet) above sea level. This subspecies is listed as a threatened species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered.
Mauna Kea Silversword
The Mauna Kea silversword (A. sandwicense subsp. sandwicense) lives on the mountain Mauna Kea. This mountain is on the Big Island of Hawaii. It grows even higher up, over 2,600 meters (about 8,500 feet) high. This subspecies is an endangered species. There are very few left, maybe as few as 40 plants.
Life Cycle
The Hawaiʻi silversword is unique because it only flowers once in its entire life. These plants can live for a very long time, from 20 to 90 years! After they bloom and produce seeds, the plant dies.
Threats to the Silversword
The Hawaiʻi silversword faces several challenges that make it endangered.
Introduced Animals
One big problem started when European settlers brought new animals to Hawaii. These animals included hoofed mammals like sheep. These animals ate the silversword plants. As more of these animals arrived, the number of silversword plants went down a lot.
Climate Change
Scientists are also worried about how climate change might affect the silversword. Some studies suggest that the plant might not be able to survive if the climate changes too much. This makes protecting these special plants even more important.
