is a plant which looks somewhat like the common cabbage and belongs to the same family (Brassicaceae)
. It was named after the island of its discovery,
, and it's latin name derives from
Sir John Pringle
, President of the Royal Society at the time of its discovery by
Captain James Cook
's Surgeon, William Anderson in 1776.
The first account of the cabbage was published by the English botanist
Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker
on his return from the voyage of the Erebus
Brassicas are a family of insect-pollinated plants, but the Kerguelen Cabbage has adapted itself to the absence of winged insects on subantarctic islands for wind pollination.
Winged insects are not found on these islands due to the strong winds which blow more or less continually.
It has projecting stamens
and long threadlike projections on the stigma (female part).
The leaves of the cabbage contain a pale-yellow, highly pungent essential oil which is rich in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C): this made it a useful dietary supplement against scurvy for early sailors.
During the stay of the sealers and scientific expeditions to
the vegetable was used either alone or with ship's beef, pork, or sealmeat.