In 2008, approximately 1,148 Haleakalā Silversword (Argyroxiphium sandwicense subsp. macrocephalum) individuals were recorded flowering, marking the 10th largest bloom count out of 41 years of annual census.
Decision support for National Park and recovery teams (population trends, replanting, and protective measures)
Educational outreach: Illustrative example of conservation science in action, especially in island environments
Seedling survival rates are low and highly variable; the absence of flowering and fresh recruits in 2009 underscores the species’ fragility.
The census data support ongoing recovery planning under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, aiding efforts to manage threats such as invasive ants, rodents, climate change, and reduced pollination.
