Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Asteliaceae Dumort.
Genus
Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Astelia graminea L.B.Moore, New Zealand J. Bot. 4: 222, fig. 8, 9 (1966)
 Description

Colonies evenly lfy without obvious tufts, lateral shoots developing freely and not restricted to subfloral lf-axils. Stem c. 1 cm. diam. Lvs c. 15–50 cm. × 5–10 mm., strongly keeled and us. drying folded; sheath closely covered with long narrow scales; lamina brownish adaxially with persistent detachable pellicle; abaxial surface pale buff and thickly felted between and often over the 3–5–(6) main nerves on each side of midrib. Infl. to c. 8–(12) cm. long, narrow; spathes narrower than lvs; racemes few, simple, not tightly congested; fls few, often < 12 per raceme. Perianth pinkish; tepals to 5 × 2 mm., spreading and ± recurved, the tube becoming orange and fleshy in fr. Ovary 3-locular, elongate. Fr. narrow-ovoid, c. 7–9 × 4–6 mm., bright orange.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Jan.; Fruiting: Mar.–Apr.

 Bibliography
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Not Threatened]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Moore, L.B. 1966: Australasian Asteliads (Liliaceae); with Special Reference to New Zealand Species of Astelia Subgenus Tricella. New Zealand Journal of Botany 4: 201–240.