Silversword alliance
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| iSilversword alliance | ||||||||||||
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 Dubautia linearis
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Argyroxiphium |
"Silversword alliance" refers to a radiation of over 50 species in the composite or sunflower family (Asteraceae). The group is endemic to Hawaii, and is derived from a single immigrant to the islands.
The silversword alliance is named for its most famous and visually striking members, the silverswords. There are three species of silverswords and two greenswords in the genus Argyroxiphium, confined to the islands of Maui and Hawaii, and two species of Wilkesia (iliau) on Kauai. The bulk of the species are placed in the genus Dubautia, which is widespread on all the main islands.
Similar species frequently occur in the same habitat and are often difficult to tell apart. Hybrids frequently occur between Dubautia species, and between Dubautia and Argyroxiphium. As a result, there is some disagreement over the number of species.
