cabbage-tree

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

n


1) Name given to various palmtrees of which the heart of the young leaves is eaten like thehead of a cabbage. In Australia the name is applied to the fanpalm, Livistona inermis, R. Br., and more commonly to Livistona australis, Martius. In New Zealand the nameis given to various species of Cordyline, especially to Cordyline indivisa. See also Flame-tree (2).

1769. `Capt. Cook's Journal,' ed. Wharton (1893), p. 144:

«We likewise found one Cabage Tree which we cut down for thesake of the cabage.»

1802. G.Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' p. 60:

«Even the ships crews helped, except those who brought thecabbage trees.»

1846. J. L. Stokes, `Discovery in Australia,' vol. ii. c. iv.p. 132:

«Cabbage-tree . . . grew in abundance.»

1847. L. Leichhardt, `Overland Expedition,' p. 72:

«Several of my companions suffered by eating too much of thecabbage-palm.»

1865. W. Howitt, `Discovery in Australia,' vol. i. p. 414:

«Clumps of what the people of King George's Sound callcabbage-trees.»

1867. F. Hochstetter, `New Zealand,' p. 240:

«There stands an isolated `cabbage-tree' (Ti of the natives; Cordyline Australis) nearly thirty feet high, withramified branches and a crown of luxuriant growth.»

2) A large, low-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, made out of theleaves of the Cabbage-tree ( Livistona).

1802. G. Barrington, `History of New South Wales,' 335:

«This hat, made of white filaments of the cabbage-tree,seemed to excite the attention of the whole party.»

1852. G. F. P., `Gold Pen and Pencil Sketches,' xv.:

«With scowl indignant flashing from his eye,

As though to wither each unshaven wretch,

Jack jogs along, nor condescends reply,

As to the price his cabbage-tree might fetch.»

1864. `Once a Week,' Dec. 31, p. 45, The Bulla Bulla Bunyip':

«Lushy Luke endeavoured to sober himself by dipping his head inthe hollowed tree-trunk which serves for the water-trough of anup-country Australian inn. He forgot, however, to take off his`cabbage-tree' before he ducked, and angry at having made afool of himself, he gave fierce orders, in a thick voice, forhis men to fall in, shoulder arms, and mark time.»

1865. Rev. J. E. Tenison-Woods, `History of the Discoveryand Exploration of Australia,' vol. i. pp. 160, 161:

«The cabbage-palm was also a new species, called by Mr. Brownthe Livistonia inermis. It was abundant; but thecabbage (the heart of the young budding leaves) too small to beuseful as an article of food, at least to a ship's company.But the leaves were found useful. These dried and drawn intostrips were plaited into hats for the men, and to this day thecabbage-tree hat is very highly esteemed by the Australians, asa protection from the sun, and allowing free ventilation.» [Note]: «A good cabbage-tree hat, though it very much resemblesa common straw hat, will fetch as much as L3.»

1878. `The Australian,' vol. i. p. 527:

«. . . trousers, peg-top shaped, and wore a new cabbage-treehat.»

1881. A. C. Grant, `Bush Life in Queensland,' vol. i. p. 33:

«A brand-new cabbage-tree hat protected his head.»

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris

← cabbage-palm   ×   cabbagites →

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