Argyroxiphium virescens × sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum, commonly known as the Pu'u 'Alaea greensword is a hybrid species of silversword plant in the family Asteraceae, and is a part of the silversword alliance. It is a hybrid between two taxons of silversword plant in the genus Argyroxiphium, being the presumably extinct Argyroxiphium virescens, and a subspecies, Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum. The hybrid species was discovered in 1989, when an individual flowered, which revealed hybridization features of two species of silversword. It is endemic to East Maui, primarily near the town of Pu’u Alaea (from which it was named), where it is seen growing beside other Argyroxiphium species. The population of the hybrid species is unknown, but is likely under threat of feral goats, and pigs that plague silversword plants.[1][2]
| Argyroxiphium virescens x sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae |
| Subtribe: | Madiinae |
| Genus: | Argyroxiphium |
| Species: | |
Description
editThe Pu'u 'Alaea greensword is morphologically similar to Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum. It is most easily distinguished by the color of the leaves. Pu'u 'Alaea greensword leaves are less hairy, and as a result, are greener than the non-hybrid species.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Hawaiian silversword alliance, UH Botany". www.botany.hawaii.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
- ^ a b Carr, Gerald D.; Medeiros, Arthur C. (January 1998). "A Remnant Greensword Population from Pu'u 'Alaea, Maui, with Characteristics of Argyroxiphium virescens (Asteraceae)". Pacific Science. 52 (1). ISSN 0030-8870. Retrieved 3 September 2023.