Haleakala Silversword
High atop Haleakala volcano on the island of Maui lives the Haleakala Silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense macrocephalum). This remarkable plant lives only in the crater and on the slopes of Haleakala, above 6800′ (2100m). The silversword grows from seed and lives from 15 to 50 years. At the end of its life it forms a dramatic blooming stalk, however since the flowering season is June to September, and my visits to Maui have always coincided with humpback season (January through May) I’ve never been able to photograph the blooming phase. In this photo the outer flanks of Haleakala are seen in the background, dropping away to clouds that cover the west Maui mountains in the distance.
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| Haleakala silversword plant, endemic to the Haleakala volcano crater area above 6800 foot elevation. Maui, Hawaii, USA. Image: 18506 Species: Argyroxiphium sandwicense macrocephalum Location: Maui, Hawaii, USA  |
