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Megaherbs of the sub Antarctic islands
The sub Antarctic islands are famous for the sanctuary they offer breeding sea birds and marine mammals, but it isn’t just animals that find a refuge here; the islands are also home to unique plant species.
Web exclusive: Megaherbs
Interview with Dr Janice Lord about the unique plant life of the sub-Antarctic.
Due to high winds and shallow soils very few tree species can survive here. Woodland cover is restricted to the Auckland and Snares Islands. On the Auckland Islands, the woodland is made up of Southern Rata (Metrosideros umbellata), while Snares Island is dominated by the giant tree daisy (Olearia lyallii), which can grow to over 5m tall.
The most well known flora on the islands are, however, the megaherbs – species that have grown unusually large and produce spectacular flower displays.
The megaherbs have evolved unique methods to help them survive on these wind-swept islands, including deeply pigmented flowers and often large, thick, hairy leaves to cope with some of the most changeable weather conditions on the planet.
There are more than 10 different megaherbs on the sub Antarctic islands. These include: Ross lily (Bulbinella rossii), Macquarie cabbage (Stilbocarpa polaris) & Campbell island carrot (Anisotome latifolia).
