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The
Cabbage Tree (Cordyline australis) is native to New Zealand and resembles
a Palm tree but doesn't belong to the Palm Tree family. It grows to 20 or
30 feet and has many branches high up on trunk and leaves in tufts at end
of branches, each leaf sword-like, long and narrow . Numerous, small, white,
fragrant flowers cluster at end of branches in summer.
The
Cabbage tree is the hardiest of the Cordylines and is drought tolerant. The
genus "Cordyline" is from the Greek for club ("kordyle")
and alludes to the shape of the roots; "australis" is from the Latin
word for southern. The Maoris of New Zealand used Cordyline australis as a
source of fibers and also for medicinal uses. The common name "cabbage
tree" was given by early European settlers in New Zealand who used the
inner leaves and stem as a cooked or raw vegetable.
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