metasequoia

Ascent of the Silversword

The splendid silversword, or ahinahina, stands dramatically in contrast to its stark volcanic surroundings. This relative of the sunflower can only be found in...
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The splendid silversword, or ahinahina, stands dramatically in contrast to its stark volcanic surroundings. This relative of the sunflower can only be found in Hawaii’s alpine deserts from 8000-10000 feet in elevation. On the islands of Maui and Hawaii, the silversword is classified respectively within the two distinct subspecies of ‘macrocephalum’ and ‘sandwicense’. With its silvery leaves to reflect the sun’s rays, it’s round shape evolved to prevent moisture loss and protect it’s vulnerable center from predation, the endemic ahinahina has adapted itself to become a very rare species. Overgrazing by ungulates and souvenir collecting humans pushed the silversword towards extinction until it was placed under protection in the 1930’s. Since then, it has shown encouraging signs of recovery on Maui and is categorized as “Threatened” by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. However, on the island of Hawai’i, the subspecies, ‘sandwicense’, is considered “Endangered”. Its struggle, in part, is due to its unique reproductive habits. The lifespan of any particular plant can be from 3 to 90 years and it flowers once at the end of its lifespan. Sending up a spectacular inflorescence 6 feet in height and covered with hundreds of individual blossoms, the silversword puts forth a hero’s effort before expiring and passing its drying seeds to the wind.

blossums unfurling
knowledge gently expands
stillness reflected…

Acknowledgements: Ben McGauhey for seeing “the shot”, Megan Wolohan for her undying support and encouragement, Alicia Vagts for her “Laureate Style”, Jamie Athern for her research and translation, and Miri Sunkel, Marty Knapp, and Richard Blair for their compositional critiques.
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