Sonchus brassicifolius, synonymDendroseris litoralis, is a species of flowering plant in the daisy and sunflower family Asteraceae.[2] It is a small evergreen tree species known as the cabbage tree. It is endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands,[2] which lie in the southeast Pacific, off the west coast of Chile. It is native only to the tiny, volcanic Robinson Crusoe Island, home of the famed Juania australis and many other endemic plants. The species is threatened by habitat loss and has been brought back from the brink of extinction. It had been reduced to only a few individuals by feral goats on the island, and is still considered critically endangered.[1]
Younger trunks of Sonchus brassicifolius are ringed with pale leaf scars and distinctive rubbery, leathery leaves up to 46 centimetres (18 in) long. It grows into a small, gnarled tree with several somewhat palm-like crowns of very large, ovate leaves on whitish, green-spotted leaf stalks and pendent inflorescences of bright orange, tassel-like 'flowers' (capitula). It is easy to cultivate and enjoys a cool, humid climate. It is hardy to light freezes and California coastal conditions.[citation needed]
Taxonomy
The species was first described in 1921 by Carl Skottsberg as Dendroseris litoralis. The genus Dendroseris was considered endemic to the Juan Fernández Islands. In 2012, based on molecular phylogenetic evidence, it was shown that Dendroseris was embedded within the genus Sonchus, and all its species were transferred to that genus, with Dendroseris reduced to a subgenus.[3] As the combination Sonchus litoralis had already been used for a different species, the replacement nameSonchus brassicifolius was published.[3][4]
Edibility
The very large leaves are edible and formed part of the diet of voluntary castawayAlexander Selkirk - the possible inspiration for Daniel Defoe's character Robinson Crusoe - during his sojourn on one of the Juan Fernandez Islands.[5][6]
Hummingbird pollination
The capitula with their large orange corollas are hummingbird pollinated. The nectar composition of Sonchus brassicifolius has large quantities of sucrose (73%), 15% fructose and 10.9% glucose.[7]
Gallery
Seedling, cultivated plant
Canopy, viewed from beneath, of mature specimen flowering in Temperate House, Kew Gardens (flowers not visible in shot)
Crown of large, edible, cabbage-like leaves that earned the species the common name of cabbage tree (Temperate House, Kew Gardens)
Young stem, showing attachment of bases of long, deeply-grooved petioles (Temperate House, Kew Gardens)
View from above of base of single petiole, showing deep channel and attachment to stem by crescent-shaped base (Temperate House, Kew Gardens)
Crescent-shaped base of petiole of fallen leaf showing structure where formerly attached to young trunk (Temperate House, Kew Gardens)
Young trunk bearing distinctive pale, annular leaf scars (Temperate House, Kew Gardens): note bud in centre of image
Upper surface of leaf at junction of petiole and lamina, showing palmate venation
Detail of upper surface of leaf tip, showing glossy, rubbery texture and veins patterned with elongate spots (Temperate House, Kew Gardens)
Part of upper surface of single leaf, back-lit to reveal fine detail of venation (Temperate House, Kew Gardens)
Detail of upper surface of leaf midrib (back-lit), showing distinctive, elongate, green spots
Interior of pendent, yellow-orange 'flower' (capitulum) (Temperate House, Kew Gardens)
References
^ abWorld Conservation Monitoring Centre (1998). "Dendroseris litoralis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1998: e.T30456A9551517. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1998.RLTS.T30456A9551517.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^ abc"Sonchus brassicifolius S.C.Kim & Mejías". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
^ abMejías, José A. & Kim, Seung-Chul (2012). "Taxonomic Treatment of Cichorieae (Asteraceae) Endemic to the Juan Fernández and Desventuradas Islands (SE Pacific)" (PDF). Annales Botanici Fennici. 49 (3): 171–178. doi:10.5735/085.049.0303. S2CID 84200128. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
^Rogers, Woodes (1712). A Cruising Voyage Round the World: First to the South-Sea, Thence to the East-Indies, and Homewards by the Cape of Good Hope. London: A. Bell.
^"Dendroseris litoralis The Cabbage Tree". strangewonderfulthings.com. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
^Hind, Nicholas; Johnson, Nick (2006). "Dendroseris litoralis. Compositae Plant in Peril 29". Curtis's Botanical Magazine. 23 (4): 314–324. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8748.2006.00546.x.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sonchus brassicifolius.
The Cabbage Tree - Dendroseris litoralis
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sonchus, brassicifolius, synonym, dendroseris, litoralis, species, flowering, plant, daisy, sunflower, family, asteraceae, small, evergreen, tree, species, known, cabbage, tree, endemic, juan, fernández, islands, which, southeast, pacific, west, coast, chile, . Sonchus brassicifolius synonym Dendroseris litoralis is a species of flowering plant in the daisy and sunflower family Asteraceae 2 It is a small evergreen tree species known as the cabbage tree It is endemic to the Juan Fernandez Islands 2 which lie in the southeast Pacific off the west coast of Chile It is native only to the tiny volcanic Robinson Crusoe Island home of the famed Juania australis and many other endemic plants The species is threatened by habitat loss and has been brought back from the brink of extinction It had been reduced to only a few individuals by feral goats on the island and is still considered critically endangered 1 Sonchus brassicifoliusConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 2 3 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade AsteridsOrder AsteralesFamily AsteraceaeGenus SonchusSubgenus Sonchus subg DendroserisSpecies S brassicifoliusBinomial nameSonchus brassicifoliusS C Kim amp MejiasSynonyms 2 Dendroseris litoralis Skottsb Single capitulum one of many of specimen flowering in Kew Gardens Contents 1 Description 2 Taxonomy 3 Edibility 4 Hummingbird pollination 5 Gallery 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditYounger trunks of Sonchus brassicifolius are ringed with pale leaf scars and distinctive rubbery leathery leaves up to 46 centimetres 18 in long It grows into a small gnarled tree with several somewhat palm like crowns of very large ovate leaves on whitish green spotted leaf stalks and pendent inflorescences of bright orange tassel like flowers capitula It is easy to cultivate and enjoys a cool humid climate It is hardy to light freezes and California coastal conditions citation needed Taxonomy EditThe species was first described in 1921 by Carl Skottsberg as Dendroseris litoralis The genus Dendroseris was considered endemic to the Juan Fernandez Islands In 2012 based on molecular phylogenetic evidence it was shown that Dendroseris was embedded within the genus Sonchus and all its species were transferred to that genus with Dendroseris reduced to a subgenus 3 As the combination Sonchus litoralis had already been used for a different species the replacement name Sonchus brassicifolius was published 3 4 Edibility EditThe very large leaves are edible and formed part of the diet of voluntary castaway Alexander Selkirk the possible inspiration for Daniel Defoe s character Robinson Crusoe during his sojourn on one of the Juan Fernandez Islands 5 6 Hummingbird pollination EditThe capitula with their large orange corollas are hummingbird pollinated The nectar composition of Sonchus brassicifolius has large quantities of sucrose 73 15 fructose and 10 9 glucose 7 Gallery Edit Seedling cultivated plant Canopy viewed from beneath of mature specimen flowering in Temperate House Kew Gardens flowers not visible in shot Crown of large edible cabbage like leaves that earned the species the common name of cabbage tree Temperate House Kew Gardens Young stem showing attachment of bases of long deeply grooved petioles Temperate House Kew Gardens View from above of base of single petiole showing deep channel and attachment to stem by crescent shaped base Temperate House Kew Gardens Crescent shaped base of petiole of fallen leaf showing structure where formerly attached to young trunk Temperate House Kew Gardens Young trunk bearing distinctive pale annular leaf scars Temperate House Kew Gardens note bud in centre of image Upper surface of leaf at junction of petiole and lamina showing palmate venation Detail of upper surface of leaf tip showing glossy rubbery texture and veins patterned with elongate spots Temperate House Kew Gardens Part of upper surface of single leaf back lit to reveal fine detail of venation Temperate House Kew Gardens Detail of upper surface of leaf midrib back lit showing distinctive elongate green spots Wild specimen flowering profusely in its native Juan Fernandez Islands Interior of pendent yellow orange flower capitulum Temperate House Kew Gardens References Edit a b World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998 Dendroseris litoralis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1998 e T30456A9551517 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 1998 RLTS T30456A9551517 en Retrieved 16 November 2021 a b c Sonchus brassicifolius S C Kim amp Mejias Plants of the World Online Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Retrieved 12 April 2023 a b Mejias Jose A amp Kim Seung Chul 2012 Taxonomic Treatment of Cichorieae Asteraceae Endemic to the Juan Fernandez and Desventuradas Islands SE Pacific PDF Annales Botanici Fennici 49 3 171 178 doi 10 5735 085 049 0303 S2CID 84200128 Retrieved 12 April 2023 Sonchus brassicifolius S C Kim amp Mejias The International Plant Names Index Retrieved 12 April 2023 Rogers Woodes 1712 A Cruising Voyage Round the World First to the South Sea Thence to the East Indies and Homewards by the Cape of Good Hope London A Bell Dendroseris litoralis The Cabbage Tree strangewonderfulthings com Retrieved 5 August 2023 Hind Nicholas Johnson Nick 2006 Dendroseris litoralis Compositae Plant in Peril 29 Curtis s Botanical Magazine 23 4 314 324 doi 10 1111 j 1467 8748 2006 00546 x External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sonchus brassicifolius The Cabbage Tree Dendroseris litoralis Royal Botanic Gardens Dendroseris litoralis This Cichorieae article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sonchus brassicifolius amp oldid 1168818198, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
