Hawaiian silversword  (Argyroxiphium sandwicense)

Description

The striking Hawaiian silversword stands out starkly against the volcanic landscape of its habitat. This plant consists of a rosette of narrow, pointed silver leaves that may be up to 40 centimetres long (2), together forming a silvery sphere (3). The common name for this species comes from the shape of the leaves; these are stiff, narrowly sword-shaped, and covered with silky, silver hair (2). These plants are particularly dramatic when in flower; the tall inflorescence grows up from the rosette of leaves and may reach three metres tall, and 75 centimetres wide (2). Between 50 and 600 compound flower heads are carried on the inflorescence; the individual flowers are pink or wine red in colour (2). Two subspecies are recognised; Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum has a more elliptical-looking inflorescence than A. s. subsp. sandwicense, which is thicker (2).

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