Also known as alula (or Olulu) in Hawaiian, Vulcan palm or Cabbage on a Stick, the uniquely beautiful Hawaiian Palm’ (Brighamia insignis) was once very common on the islands of Hawaii. Today, the specific hawk moth responsible for its pollination is extinct and subsequent hurricanes have decimated wild populations.

Luckily, before the last remaining plants were destroyed, some plants were found clinging to a vertical volcanic rock face and were successfully hand-pollinated and their seed collected by plucky botanists to ensure its continued existence.

A number of scientists and volunteers are actively occupied with the conservation of the Hawaiian Palm. This group belongs to the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC), which aims to halt the decline in biodiversity. The group has pollinated the flowers of the palm by hand and harvested the seed, which is now being used to propagate the plant. A large number of plants have now been cultivated in a special reserve, and the Hawaiian Palm will eventually be returned to the wild. The IUCN is also trying to restore the natural habitat of the palm so that it will ultimately be able to survive independently.