Pringlea: Difference between revisions
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The plant is edible, containing high levels of [[potassium]]. Its leaves contain a Vitamin C-rich oil, a fact which, in the days of sailing ships, made it very attractive to British sailors suffering from [[scurvy]], hence the species name, which means "against scurvy" in Latin. In May of 1840, botanist J.D. Hooker was the first to make a technical analysis of the plant, and to assign the Latin name. Hooker also reported having eaten some soup that had been made with Kerguelen cabbage, and described the raw leaves as tasting like cress, the boiled leaves as tasting like "stale" (i.e., dried-out) cabbage, and the root as tasting like [[horseradish]].<ref>J, Hooker, ''Flora Antarctica, 1843.''</ref> <ref>''In Pursuit of Plants'', pp. 297-299.</ref> |
The plant is edible, containing high levels of [[potassium]]. Its leaves contain a Vitamin C-rich oil, a fact which, in the days of sailing ships, made it very attractive to British sailors suffering from [[scurvy]], hence the species name, which means "against scurvy" in Latin. In May of 1840, botanist J.D. Hooker was the first to make a technical analysis of the plant, and to assign the Latin name. Hooker also reported having eaten some soup that had been made with Kerguelen cabbage, and described the raw leaves as tasting like cress, the boiled leaves as tasting like "stale" (i.e., dried-out) cabbage, and the root as tasting like [[horseradish]].<ref>J, Hooker, ''Flora Antarctica, 1843.''</ref> <ref>''In Pursuit of Plants'', pp. 297-299.</ref> |
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The [[Micropezidae|micropezid]] fly species ''[[Calycopteryx mosleyi]]'' is associated with this plant. Both are endangered by [[Rabbits in Australia|rabbits]] which feed on the cabbage. |
The [[Micropezidae|micropezid]] fly species ''[[Calycopteryx mosleyi]]'' is associated with this plant. Both are endangered by [[invasive species|invasive]] [[Rabbits in Australia|rabbits]] which feed on the cabbage. |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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Revision as of 12:57, 20 September 2010
| Pringlea | |
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| Species: | P. antiscorbutica
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| Pringlea antiscorbutica | |
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Pringlea antiscorbutica, commonly known as Kerguelen cabbage, is a flowering plant in the Family Brassicaceae and thus related to cabbage. The species grows on the Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Crozet, Prince Edward, Marion and Kerguelen Islands. These remote islands are at roughly 50º South Latitude, constantly buffeted by strong winds. This makes pollination by flying insects impractical, explaining why the Kerguelen cabbage is self-pollinating. At the mature stage, this species exhibits several adaptations linked to cold tolerance such as high polyamine levels, potential adaptations and polyamine response.
It was named after the island of its discovery, Kerguelen Island, and its generic name derives from Sir John Pringle, President of the Royal Society at the time of its discovery by Captain James Cook's Surgeon, William Anderson in 1776.
The plant is edible, containing high levels of potassium. Its leaves contain a Vitamin C-rich oil, a fact which, in the days of sailing ships, made it very attractive to British sailors suffering from scurvy, hence the species name, which means "against scurvy" in Latin. In May of 1840, botanist J.D. Hooker was the first to make a technical analysis of the plant, and to assign the Latin name. Hooker also reported having eaten some soup that had been made with Kerguelen cabbage, and described the raw leaves as tasting like cress, the boiled leaves as tasting like "stale" (i.e., dried-out) cabbage, and the root as tasting like horseradish.[1] [2]
The micropezid fly species Calycopteryx mosleyi is associated with this plant. Both are endangered by invasive rabbits which feed on the cabbage.
External links
- http://www.btinternet.com/~sa_sa/kerguelen/kerguelen_cabbage.html
- http://www.anbg.gov.au/anbg/sub-antarctic/article3.html
References
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