This post is about the Silversword Plant. In the Hawaiian language it is called “AhinaAhina”. This means “Very Gray”. There is no word for “Silver” in the Hawaiian language. The Silversword Plant is a very rare plant. It is only found at the top of Mt. Haleakala in Maui and Mauna Kea on the Big Island. That is the only place in the world where it is found. The Silversword Plant is endangered because of all the animals that eat it. The Silversword plant makes a tall skinny bush of maroon ray flowers. The Silverswords life span is 3 to 90 years or more. People are not allowed to go close to the Silversword plant because they could break the roots. Goats and cattle are not allowed to go eat the Silversword plant so people put fencing around so they can not destroy the Silversword plant.
Have you seen a Silversword plant?
Dear Neil,
I have not seen the Silversword Plant. I did know that the Hawaiian word is AhinaAhina and I did not know that AhinaAhina means Silversword.
From,
Bianca
Dear Neil,
This is a wonderful post about the Silversword Plant. I never knew it existed until your post. It’s such a beautiful plant. I hope that it can flourish and survive.
Here’s to AhinaAhina,
Mrs. Fordyce
Hi Neil,
The Silversword plant is a great example of evolution. It probably evolved from the seeds that were dropped by some birds that flew to Hawaii from other Polynesian islands. Over thousands of years, it developed characteristics that helped it survive in the cold, windy and dry crater of Haleakala. It changed so much by evolution that it became it’s own species!! There are many such examples of evolution on small islands, especially Madagascar. Can you find some of them?