The silvery hairs, fleshy leaves, and low-growing rosette form of the Haleakalā silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum) allow it to survive in hot, dry climates like the aeolian desert cinder slopes of the crater. Silverswords live between 3 and 90 years or more. They flower once, sending up a spectacular flowering stalk, and then die soon afterward, scattering drying seeds to the wind.
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Maui’s rare silversword plants on Haleakala are dying from increased warmth and drought (2019 article)
https://archive.ph/folgc
From https://www.nps.gov/hale/learn/nature/silversword.htm
That place is otherworldly.
Gorgeous plant!
Looks like it’s about to do a dramatic turn around and start miming some disco.