| The
tens of thousands of visitors to Lundy walk past one of the most unusual
plants in the world as they make their way up from the landing jetty.
The Lundy cabbage Coincya wrightii grows only on the eastern
cliffs and slopes of the island and nowhere else in the world and
is a protected species. It reaches up to a metre in height and with
its yellow flowers (seen from May to August) it looks a little similar
to oil seed rape. Although it is a member of the cabbage family, it
tastes ghastly - it has been described as “triple-distilled
essence of Brussels sprout”. The Lundy cabbage is unique in
that two species of beetles that feed on it – the Lundy cabbage
flea beetle and the Lundy cabbage weevil – also occur nowhere
else in the world. The number of Lundy cabbages varies from year to
year. Grazing by goats, sheep and rabbits seems to be a particular
problem, along with suppression by the invasive alien rhododendron
bushes that are spreading across the island.
|
|
 |
 |
| Lundy
cabbage © Roger Key |
|
Close
this window