Ngaire Hart, Megaherbs Subantartic (ANIMAL & NATURE 2025)

These megaherbs are only found on a handful of Islands south of New Zealand, in the middle of the Southern Ocean, halfway to Antartica. Megaherbs evolved to thrive in acidic peaty soils. Near constant wind, rain, mist and cloudness occur 90% daily. Large, hairy and corrugated leaves are typical of megaherbs. Some have vibrant enormous flower heads, scent salt-laden fills the air with nectar. The huge green cabbage plant has edible leaves and roots, which taste like sugary turnip and were a cure for scurvy in the late 1800's. The megaherbs are a botantical mystery and ubiquitous to the Subantartic Islands which thrive in a boggy wet environment.

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