Cabbage-on-a-stick

Only 7 specimens left in the wild

This succulent shrub with its translated Dutch vernacular name of ‘Hawaii palm’, could be confusing since it is certainly not a palm. The thick succulent stem of Brighamia insignis stores water to enable the plant to survive long periods of drought and can reach several metres in height. On the top of the stem there forms a rosette of fleshy, glossy leaves. The creamy yellow flowers have petals that form the corollary tube. Their fragrance lures nocturnal moths, and these insects pollinate the flowers with their long proboscis.

Ecology and habitat

Brighamia insignis is endemic to Hawaii and is only found in a small geographical area: two islands within the Hawaiian archipelago. Here Brighamia insignis grows on the dry, windy slopes of volcanoes and sometimes on the steep cliffs along the coast.

Threat

Since Brighamia insignis is found only in this restricted geographical area it is considered to be extremely vulnerable. In Hawaii the last few populations have almost completely disappeared as a result of grazing, competition from introduced plant species and violent hurricanes. There are less than seven mature plants now left in the wild. Forest felling has probably destroyed the natural habitat of the moth that this plant relies on for pollination; the moth has now become extinct. Without pollination there is no fertilisation and thus no seed. Researchers are therefore trying to pollinate the last few remaining plant in the wild by hand, sometimes hanging in rope ladders in order to gain access to the most hard to reach specimens. Within botanical gardens on Hawaii new plants are being cultivated and this has secured the survival of the species. The natural population is now being supplemented by plants from these collections. Today Brighamia insignis is available as a houseplant with part of the proceeds going to a fund that contributes towards the protection of this and other endangered species in Hawaii.