cabbage tree cordyline australis with flowering spikes inflorescences pix sanjiv shukla

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Cabbage tree (Cordyline australis) with flowering spikes (inflorescences) : (pix Sanjiv Shukla)

Cabbage tree (Cordyline australis), also known as Torbay palm and Torquay palm is a widely branched monocot tree endemic to New Zealand. It has stout trunk and sword-like leaves, which are clustered at the tips of the branches. Sweetly perfumed flowers are produced in large, dense flower spikes. Its fruit is a favourite food for the kerer? or New Zealand pigeon other native birds. It provides durable fibre for textiles, anchor ropes, fishing lines, baskets, waterproof rain capes and cloaks, and sandals. After the first flowering, it divides to form a much-branched crown with tufts of leaves at the tips of the branches. Each branch may fork after producing a flowering stem.