The only edible plant Captain Cook found on these desolate sub-Antarctic islands, so rich in vitamin C it prevented scurvy. DNA reveals this cabbage evolved from a mainland ancestor in under 20,000 years. Rapid speciation driven by extreme isolation 3,300 kilometers from any continent.
CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
An evolutionary oddity
On the wind-blasted Kerguelen Islands, nicknamed the "Desolation Islands," a unique plant thrives: Pringlea antiscorbutica. It is the sole member of its genus, a botanical castaway belonging to the otherwise familiar cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The islands sit at roughly 50° south latitude, constantly battered by the "Furious Fifties"—powerful, unimpeded winds that can exceed 150 kph. In this cold, treeless environment, the cabbage grows in large rosettes up to 45 centimeters wide, a form that protects it from the relentless gales.
Its discovery by Europeans occurred on Christmas Day in 1776, during Captain James Cook's third voyage. William Anderson, the ship's surgeon and naturalist, identified the plant and noted its "watery acid taste." The crew quickly incorporated it into their diet, boiling it with seal meat and beef. Rich in vitamin C, the plant's leaves contain a pungent, pale-yellow essential oil that proved effective against scurvy. This medicinal property earned it the species name antiscorbutica, meaning "against scurvy" in Low Latin.
A genetic sprint
The Kerguelen cabbage is an example of rapid evolution. Genetic analysis indicates its ancestors likely migrated from South America, arriving on the islands relatively recently in geological terms. The entire process of adapting and becoming a new species occurred in a remarkably short period, driven by the extreme isolation of the archipelago.
One of the most significant adaptations is its method of reproduction. The Brassicaceae family is typically pollinated by insects, but flying insects are almost nonexistent on the windswept Kerguelen Islands. In response, Pringlea antiscorbutica evolved the ability to self-pollinate, a important trait for survival in its pollinator-free environment. The plant also developed a high tolerance for cold, marked by elevated levels of polyamines in its tissues.
This evolutionary path, however, has left the cabbage vulnerable. Rabbits, introduced to the islands around 1874, now consume the plant extensively, as it lacks defenses against mammalian herbivores. Its populations have been heavily reduced in areas accessible to the rabbits. Introduced slugs and microbial pathogens also threaten to this remarkable survivor.
💡Fun Facts
The plant's genus, *Pringlea*, is named after Sir John Pringle, a president of the Royal Society who studied methods to prevent scurvy.
Botanist Joseph Dalton Hooker, who provided the first full scientific description in 1840, described the raw leaves as tasting like cress and the root as similar to horseradish.
The cabbage grows on a thick, semi-woody stem that can be up to one meter long.
The Kerguelen Islands are so isolated that the nearest civilization is over 3,300 kilometers (2,000 miles) away.
The islands are a restricted nature reserve, primarily for scientific research, with no public visiting hours.
Admission
Access is by permit only. A limited number of tourist berths are sometimes available on the *Marion Dufresne II* research and supply vessel for a high price.
Accessibility
The terrain is rugged and without roads or tourist facilities. Movement is challenging and restricted.
