What Is the Alula Bird? The Story of a Hawaiian Plant

The Alula, known in Hawaiian as ‘Ōlulu and scientifically as Brighamia insignis, is a plant native to the Hawaiian Islands. Also called “cabbage-on-a-stick” for its distinctive appearance, this species is now considered extinct in the wild, surviving only through dedicated conservation programs. Its story is one of botanical rarity and the impact of human intervention.

Unique Appearance and Native Environment

The Alula’s appearance is distinctive. It features a thick, succulent stem that is bulbous at the base and tapers toward the top, a characteristic that helps it store water. This stem, which can reach heights of 3 to 6 feet and sometimes up to 15 feet, is topped by a compact rosette of large, fleshy, spoon-shaped leaves. The leaves are a bright to dark green.

From September to November, the plant produces clusters of three to eight fragrant, trumpet-shaped yellow flowers. These flowers, with petals fused into a long tube, emerge from the leaf axils, the angle between the leaf and the stem. The fragrance is often compared to that of honeysuckle or citrus. This plant was historically found on the steep, rocky sea cliffs of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau. This harsh, windswept environment influenced the Alula’s succulent form and cliff-dwelling nature.

A Story of Coextinction

The primary driver behind the Alula’s disappearance from the wild is a classic case of coextinction. The plant’s survival was intricately linked to a specific pollinator, a species of hawk moth believed to be its sole means of natural reproduction. With the extinction of this moth, the Alula lost its ability to produce seeds in the wild.

Several secondary factors hastened the plant’s decline. The arrival of non-native animals, particularly feral goats, was destructive. Goats not only consumed the plants but also caused erosion and dislodged rocks on the steep cliffs, damaging its habitat. Competition from invasive plant species also played a role, crowding out the native Alula. Natural events like hurricanes and landslides threatened the few remaining populations clinging to the exposed cliff faces.

Human Intervention and Survival

The survival of the Alula is a direct result of human intervention. In an effort to save the species, botanists began rappelling down the sea cliffs of Kauaʻi in the 1970s to hand-pollinate the last known wild plants. Using small paintbrushes, they transferred pollen between the flowers of the remaining individuals, a process that mimicked the actions of the lost hawk moth. This effort allowed the plants to produce fruit and viable seeds.

The collected seeds were distributed to botanical gardens and conservation institutions around the world, creating ex situ, or off-site, populations. Today, hundreds of plants are cared for in these protected environments. Ongoing genetic research on these cultivated plants helps to maintain genetic diversity, and seedlings are being grown in nurseries with the hope of one day reintroducing them to protected habitats in Hawaii.