Wilkesia gymnoxiphium | |
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Wilkesia gymnoxiphium growing near Waimea Canyon | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Asterales |
Family: | Asteraceae |
Genus: | Wilkesia |
Species: | W. gymnoxiphium
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Binomial name | |
Wilkesia gymnoxiphium |
Wilkesia gymnoxiphium (Hawaiian iliau), is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae that is endemic to the island of Kauaʻi in Hawaiʻi. It is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List.[3] Wilkesia is one of three genera, with Argyroxiphium (silverswords and greenswords) and Dubautia (a larger group with many varied species) that are believed to be descendant from a single species related to the North American tarweed.[4] The members of these three genera constitute what is called the silversword alliance, a group whose exceedingly close genetic heritage is not reflected in their exceptionally diverse morphologies.[5]