Silversword struggling, scientist says

By Gary T. Kubota

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 17, 2012

~~<p>Once on the path to recovery, the rare and iconic Haleakala silversword on Maui appears to be fighting for survival as rainfall declines and temperatures rise in its mountainous habitat, according to scientists.</p>
<p>"Silversword reproduction on Haleakala has sharply decreased since the mid-1990s, and small- to medium-size plants are often dying without flowering," said research biologist Lloyd Loope, who recently retired from the U.S. Geological Survey.</p>
~~

Once on the path to recovery, the rare and iconic Haleakala silversword on Maui appears to be fighting for survival as rainfall declines and temperatures rise in its mountainous habitat, according to scientists.

"Silversword reproduction on Haleakala has sharply decreased since the mid-1990s, and small- to medium-size plants are often dying without flowering," said research biologist Lloyd Loope, who recently retired from the U.S. Geological Survey. Login for more...