cabbage on a stick
CR

cabbage on a stick

Brighamia insignis

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brighamia_insignis

Overview

Brighamia insignis, commonly known as ʻŌlulu or Alula in Hawaiian, or colloquially as the vulcan palm or cabbage on a stick, is a species of Hawaiian lobelioid in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. It was native to the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau, but has been extinct in the wild since at least 2020. This short-lived perennial species is a member of a unique endemic Hawaiian genus with only one other species.

Brighamia insignis faces extinction primarily due to the loss of its native pollinators and extremely limited habitat on Hawaiian sea cliffs. The species has declined to critically low numbers in the wild, with fewer than 120 individuals remaining, and now requires hand-pollination by humans to reproduce successfully.

Threat summary

Habitat

Brighamia insignis was found at elevations from sea level to in mesic shrublands and dry forests that receive less than of annual rainfall. It grew on rocky ledges with little soil and steep sea cliffs. Associated plants include āhinahina (Artemisia spp.) akoko (Euphorbia celastroides), alahee (Psydrax odorata), kāwelu (Eragrostis variabilis), pili (Heteropogon contortus), kokio ula (Hibiscus...

Other threatened species in Campanulaceae

Venus's-looking-glassCR

Venus's-looking-glass

Legousia hybrida

Unknown
Water LobeliaCR

Water Lobelia

Lobelia dortmanna

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is cabbage on a stick classified as Critically Endangered?
cabbage on a stick is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Brighamia insignis faces extinction primarily due to the loss of its native pollinators and extremely limited habitat on Hawaiian sea cliffs. The species has declined to critically low numbers in the wild, with fewer than 120 individuals remaining, and now requires hand-pollination by humans to reproduce successfully.
Where does cabbage on a stick live?
cabbage on a stick occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to cabbage on a stick?
The main threats to cabbage on a stick are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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