Macquarie Island cabbage facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Macquarie Island cabbage |
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| Stilbocarpa polaris on Campbell Island | |
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Stilbocarpa
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polaris
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The Stilbocarpa polaris, often called the Macquarie Island Cabbage, is a special type of flowering plant. It belongs to the Araliaceae plant family. This plant is known as a megaherb, which means it's a very large herb. It can grow up to about one metre (about 3 feet) tall! You can find this unique plant growing on the subantarctic islands of New Zealand and on Australia’s Macquarie Island. These islands are located in the cold, windy southern parts of the world.
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Why is this Plant Called a Cabbage?
The Macquarie Island Cabbage gets its common name because its large, green leaves look a bit like the leaves of a regular cabbage. However, it's not actually related to the cabbages we eat. It's a "megaherb" because it grows much bigger than most other herbs. This large size helps it survive in the harsh, windy conditions of its island homes.
How Did People Use This Plant?
For a long time, the Macquarie Island Cabbage was very important to people visiting these remote islands.
A Food Source for Explorers
Early explorers and sealers often ate this plant. It was a valuable food source when fresh food was hard to find.
Preventing Scurvy
The plant was especially important for preventing scurvy. Scurvy is a serious illness caused by not getting enough Vitamin C. Sailors and explorers on long voyages often suffered from scurvy. Eating the fresh leaves of the Macquarie Island Cabbage helped them stay healthy and avoid this illness.
Is the Macquarie Island Cabbage Safe?
The Macquarie Island Cabbage is currently classified as "At Risk - Naturally Uncommon" in New Zealand. This means it's not found in many places and needs to be watched carefully.
Threats from Introduced Animals
On Macquarie Island, this plant faced big dangers from animals that were brought to the island by humans. These animals included black rats and European rabbits.
- Rats would eat the plant's seeds and young shoots.
- Rabbits would eat the leaves and stems, damaging the plants.
Protecting the Plant
Thankfully, efforts were made to remove these introduced animals from Macquarie Island. By 2011, the rats and rabbits were successfully removed. This has helped the Macquarie Island Cabbage to recover and grow more safely on the island. Protecting these unique plants helps keep the island's natural environment healthy.
