The Lundy Cabbage (Coincya wrightii) is a species of primitive brassica growing only on Lundy and nowhere else in the world. Lundy. Its nearest relative grows in southern Spain and North Africa. It is likely that Lundy has acted as a ‘mini-Galapagos’, being far enough away from the mainland to have allowed the plant to evolve into a separate species.
It is one of about a dozen endemic plants in the British Isles. However, even amongst this select company, it stands out. It is unique in having its own endemic insect(s). There is a Bronze Lundy Cabbage Flea Beetle (and, possibly, another flea beetle and a weevil) which only live on the plant (not to mention the attendant entomologists!)
If all the areas of growth on the Island were put together, it would cover a square of side ~100m, which, for the total world population of a plant, is miniscule. Although the sheep, goats and ponies on the Island will eat it, its main threat is from the rhododendrons, the Alien Invader, with which it plays a kind of slow motion, floral game of Pacman.
The Lundy Cabbage presents a unique opportunity to study evolution in action and steps are being taken to ensure its conservation.
M.S.