Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asparagales Link
Family
Asteliaceae Dumort.
Genus
Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R.Br.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Astelia hastata Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 19: 265 (1887)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Collospermum hastatum (Colenso) Skottsb., Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. Ser. 3, 14: 77 (1934)
NEW ZEALAND. North Island. Hilly country north of Napier, County of Wairoa. January 1886, A. Hamilton s.n. (Lectotype: K [000524883, digital image!], staminate, designated by Skottsberg, 1934, 79; Isolectotypes: K [000524884, digital image!], staminate, pistillate; AK [3191!], staminate, pistillate).
  • = Funckia hastata Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2, 711 (1891)
  • = Astelia furfuracea Banks & Sol. ex Skottsb., Kongl. Svenska Vetensk. Acad. Handl. Ser. 3, 14: 77 (1934)
 Description

Robust tufted plants, often in large colonies. Stem c. 2 cm. diam. Lvs 60–170 × 3–5–7 cm., arcuate; sheath gradually narrowing above by long cuneate shoulder, the lower portion us. black abaxially, sts shading into yellow, the basal 1–2 cm. clad in fine filiform white scales 1–2 cm. long; lamina adaxially dull green without scales in mature lf; abaxial surface more bronzed and permanently clad in peltate dark-centred scales. Infl. arching out from fan of lvs; peduncle c. = panicle; panicle of c. 4–8 cylindric racemes. Male racemes c. 15–20 × 3 cm.; fls cream, deeper yellow towards cup-shaped base; per.-segs 9–14 × (1)–1.5–2 mm., linear-oblong, the surfaces exposed in bud scaly; stamens c. 10 mm. long, ovary c. 2 mm. diam. Female racemes c. 20–30 × 2.5 cm., fls very pale cream; per.-tube c. 5 mm. long, cup-shaped, per.-segs c. 2–3 × 1 mm.; ovary subglobose, abruptly narrowed into short style. Fr. c. 4.5 mm. diam., globose, ± translucent yellow then red, cupped in thin membr. per.-tube. Seeds ∞, c. 1.4 × 0.7 mm., narrow-ovoid, black, dull, longitudinally ridged, surrounded by thick, = mucilaginous aril. n = 35.

[From: Moore and Edgar (1970) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 2. as Collospermum hastatum (Colenso) Skottsb.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Jan.–Mar.; Fruiting: Mar.–Aug.

 Bibliography
Birch, J.L. 2015: A revision of infrageneric classification in Astelia Banks & Sol. ex R.Br. (Asteliaceae). PhytoKeys 52: 105–132.
Colenso, W. 1887: A description of some newly-discovered cryptogamic plants, being a further contribution towards the making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 19: 271–301.
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. [as Collospermum hastatum (Colenso) Skottsb.] [Not Threatened]
Kuntze, C.E.O. 1891: Revisio Generum Plantarum. Vol. 2. Arthur Felix, Leipzig.
Skottsberg, C. 1934: Studies in the genus Astelia Banks et Solander. Kongl. Svenska Vetenskaps Academiens Handlingar. Stockholm (Ser.3) 14(2): 1–106.