Silversword Flower

A close-up of an 'ahinahina blossom reveals lots of little flower that look similar to a sunflower. The 'ahinahina is a member of the sunflower family, whose flower heads are actually made up of several hundred disc and ray flower. 'Ahinahina cannot produce fertile seeds without cross-pollination. Therefore, these plants are dependent upon insect pollinator for long-term survival.

Native moths, flies or bees travel in a circle around the perimeter of the blossom gathering pollen. Cross-pollination occur when the insect travels to the blossom of another 'ahinahina plant. The introduction of foreign insects, such as the Argentine ant, that prey on the native pollinator could result in a dramatic decrease in 'ahinahina populations.