Sonchus brassicifolius
Sonchus brassicifolius, also known as the cabbage tree, is a small evergreen tree in the daisy family. It is critically endangered and found only on the Juan Fernández Islands near Chile, specifically on Robinson Crusoe Island. Habitat loss and grazing by feral goats have driven it to very few individuals, though conservation efforts have helped bring it back from the brink.
The tree has pale ringed leaf scars on younger trunks and very large, rubbery leaves up to 46 cm long. It grows as a small, gnarled tree with several palm-like crowns of large leaves on pale-streak stalks and hanging clusters of bright orange flower heads. It prefers cool, humid climates and can tolerate light freezes; it also grows well in California coastal conditions.
It was first described in 1921 as Dendroseris litoralis. In 2012, scientists determined that Dendroseris belongs in the genus Sonchus, so the species was renamed Sonchus brassicifolius. The large leaves are edible and were eaten by Alexander Selkirk, the castaway associated with the Robinson Crusoe stories. The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:17 (CET).